Cacak Court Hands Down 18 Years for Child Abuse

The Higher Court in Cacak has issued three verdicts in three separate cases, under indictments filed earlier by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Cacak. Children were the victims in all three, and the court also imposed measures under the so-called Marija’s Law.

“The Higher Court in Cacak has issued three verdicts in three separate cases, under indictments previously filed by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Cacak,” the prosecutor’s office said on August 31.

Three cases, three sentences

The first defendant was sentenced to six years in prison for a continued offense of sexual intercourse through abuse of position, under Article 181, paragraph 3, in conjunction with paragraph 2 and Article 61 of the Criminal Code. The victim was a child.

The second defendant received a combined sentence of five years and two months for a continued offense of sexual intercourse with a child and a continued offense of sexual intercourse through abuse of position.

The third defendant was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexual intercourse with a child under Article 180, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.

Combined, the three sentences add up to 18 years and two months in prison.

Marija’s Law and the lifetime registry

In all three cases, the convicted men were also given measures under Marija’s Law. “In all of the cases listed, the convicted men were also given measures under the so-called Marija’s Law,” the prosecutor’s office stated. Once their sentences are served, the men are barred from visiting places where minors gather, including schools, school grounds, kindergartens, playgrounds and children’s events.

“They will be permanently entered into the registry of perpetrators of these criminal offenses,” the prosecutor’s office’s statement reads. The entry in the registry is permanent and does not expire over time.

Proceedings against three minors still open

Alongside the three final verdicts, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Cacak has also filed a request to open preliminary proceedings against three minors, over the criminal offense of sexual harassment under Article 182a, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. According to the prosecutor’s office, that case is still ongoing.

The cases reached the court after the indictments were filed earlier, meaning the final verdicts arrived only months later. The prosecutor’s office released its statement on all three verdicts on August 31, and Serbian media picked up the story on September 1.