Svetlana Babačić sentenced to over four years for human trafficking

The High Court in Podgorica has sentenced Svetlana Babačić to four years and five months in prison for human trafficking. The court found that between December 2021 and April 2022, Babačić exploited the vulnerability of three women to recruit them into prostitution.

Judge Ivan Perović noted the specific nature of the crime, stating that Babačić did not use physical force, threats, or confinement to maintain control. Instead, she exerted influence by presenting herself as a helpful figure and exploiting the victims' difficult material circumstances, such as financial dependency and personal hardships.

While the victims maintained a degree of superficial autonomy—such as being able to refuse clients or possessing mobile phones—the court ruled that they lacked substantive freedom of decision-making. Two other individuals, B. M. and S. Đ., were acquitted of charges related to aiding human trafficking due to a lack of evidence.