13 January 2012

On 11 January, a mixed panel, presided over by a EULEX judge, at the District Court of Prizren, issued a verdict in a human trafficking case.

Eight (8) persons from Kosovo were found guilty and given an aggregated sentence of twelve (12) years imprisonment for the trafficking of a minor from Albania.

The juvenile girl was forced to work as a dancer and made to perform sexual acts at different locations in Kamenica and the Prizren area between November 2010 and the start of 2011. During that time, she tried to escape but was forcibly returned and deprived of her liberty.

S.G. was sentenced to four (4) years and one month imprisonment. He was found guilty of the criminal offence of Trafficking in Persons, Unlawful Deprivation of Liberty and Violating the Rights in Labour.

D.B. was sentenced to two (2) years imprisonment. He was found guilty of the criminal offence of Trafficking in Persons, Sexual Abuse of Persons under the age of 16 years and Violating the Rights in Labour.

E.K. was sentenced to one (1) year and three months imprisonment. He was found guilty of the criminal offence of Trafficking in Persons and Violating the Rights in Labour.

S.B. was sentenced to one (1) year and on month imprisonment. He was found guilty of the criminal offence of Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Abuse of Persons under the age of 16 years.

M.K., was sentenced to one (1) year and one month imprisonment. He was found guilty of the criminal offence of Trafficking in Persons and Violating the Rights in Labour.

I.I. and R.K., were sentenced to one (1) year imprisonment each. They were found guilty of the criminal offence of Trafficking in Persons.

V.M. was sentenced to seven (7) months of imprisonment. He was found guilty of the criminal offence of Negligently Facilitating Trafficking in Persons.

Another person who acted as co-perpetrator is still at large and investigations are on-going.

The investigation has been led by a mixed team of EULEX and local prosecutors.