Human Trafficking Trial in Bijelo Polje

30 March 2005

The trial of Mersad Licina (38), from Rozaj, Djordje Petrovic and Zoran Cubrakovic from Pozega, on the charges of human trafficking, continues in front of the Council presided by Judge Darko Konatar, at the Court of Second Jurisdiction in Bijelo Polje.

The prosecution, represented by the Deputy State Prosecutor Lepa Medenica, accused Licina of holding forcibly Milica Novakovic from Pozega at his �Montenegro� Bar in Rozaje, and forced her into prostitution. Milica Novakovic was brought to Licina by Petrovic and Cubrakovic, under the false pretext that she would be employed as a waitress.

When she arrived to Rozaje, Novakovic found out that she would have to prostitute herself. She escaped, using Licina�s absence from the Bar, and reported the case to the Police.

Novakovic gave her three-hour testimony yesterday, in the empty courtroom. Judge Konatar emptied the court, after the decision that the privacy of the witnesses should be protected from the public.

In an earlier hearing, Licina denied his responsibility for the criminal offences charged by the Prosecution. He added that he will prove his innocence and expose the people that fabricated the charges leading to his arrest.

"This is not 1948, when people were arrested just because somebody pointed a finger�, finished Licina.

Petrovic and Cubrakovic also pleaded not guilty on the charges of human trafficking. The trial will continue with a hearing on March 31.