The Prosecutor’s Office of the Brčko District of BiH today requested from the District Basic Court to order a one-month detention for three people who were deprived of their liberty on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of human trafficking, after 31 children were found in a house on the outskirts of the city without parental supervision and care.
Detention has been requested for the owner of the house, her son and another person who helped look after the children.
Acting Chief Prosecutor of the Brčko District of BiH Radmilo Ivanović told reporters today that the detention for these people was requested due to the fear that they would destroy, hide, falsify or alter evidence and repeat or complete the criminal offense of human trafficking.
“Child trafficking is punishable by a prison sentence of ten years or more, and the criminal offense of neglect or abuse of a child is punishable by a prison sentence of up to three years. The Basic Court is obliged to issue a detention decision within 24 hours” said Ivanović.
Speaking about the five people who were subsequently deprived of their liberty during the investigation into this case, he stated that the District Prosecutor’s Office, after questioning them, will make a decision on whether to request detention for them as well.
“These are people who are posing as parents or relatives of the children who were found, but the Prosecutor’s Office does not have reliable evidence that they are indeed their children. We will determine this later,” says Ivanovic and adds that the police, upon the order and supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office, will intensively investigate this criminal matter.
Ivanovic says that a meeting has been scheduled for today with the Mayor of Brčko and the Chief of Police to secure funds for long-term safe accommodation for the children so that the planned investigative actions can be fully implemented.
“The children were medically examined and it was determined that they have certain parasites and are receiving medical care,” said Ivanovic, confirming that gynecological examinations were also performed on some of the girls in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
He added that the children have not yet been identified and that the police, in cooperation with other agencies, will verify the data.
“We do not have reliable information about which children these are, nor do we know who their parents are,” says Ivanovic.
