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The south-eastern Bosnian town of Foca, where the alleged crimes were committed. Photo: BIRN.

The trial of ex-soldier Milan Todovic, who is charged with committing war crimes of sexual abuse in Foca, opened on Friday at the Bosnian state court in Sarajevo.

According to the indictment which was read out in court, from October 1992 to March 1993, during a period in which there was a widespread and systematic attack on Foca, Todovic raped a Bosniak woman and forced her into sexual slavery.

The indictment alleges that Todovic “bought” the woman from other Bosnian Serb soldiers on October 30, 1992, raped her and then forced her into sexual slavery from December that year until March 5, 1993, keeping her in inhumane conditions while physically and sexually abusing her.

“I hope the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina will accept the evidence and pronounce a verdict of conviction, as well as an adequate sentence,” said prosecutor Mersudin Pruzan in his opening statement.

The defence did not present an opening statement.

The trial will continue on March 23.