Bosnian Court Confirms Ex-Soldier’s Sexual Slavery Conviction

Milan Todovic (left) in court with his lawyer. Photo courtesy of the Bosnian Court.

The Appeals Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday confirmed the December 2018 verdict, which found former Bosnian Serb soldier Milan Todovic guilty of raping a Bosniak woman in the eastern Bosnian town of Foca during the 1992-5 war and holding her in sexual captivity.

The verdict said Todovic "bought" her from another soldier and took her to an apartment in the town where he kept her captive.

"Todovic held the woman in the apartment in inhumane conditions without food, water, electricity and heating, while mistreating her physically and sexually on a daily basis," the verdict said.

The woman, who testified as a protected witness in the trial under the codename S-1, managed to escape from the apartment with the help of three Serbs on March 5, 1993, the verdict added.

The Appeals Chamber confirmed that Todovic also has to pay his victim 13,100 Bosnian marks, equal to about 6,670 euros, for the pain and fear she suffered, as well as for her reduced ability to live a normal life.

The verdict cannot be appealed.