Fifth Perpetrator Arrested for Raping of Minor Girl in Kosovo

Kosovo Police has managed to arrest the fifth suspect for the rape of the 11-year-old girl while the Basic Court of Pristina has assigned a month's detention to the other four on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of rape. 

Three of the suspects are minors and two others are adults, among them Ekrem Rexhepi, 27 years old, who has also been indicted for the criminal offenses of aggravated theft, theft of the forest and domestic violence. 

While the suspects for the rape of the 11-year-old are under security measures, the authorities provide few details on the condition of the victim. However, for further investigations, a commission will be formed by the Ministry of Justice, to hold the institutions responsible. 

Thus, the general director of the Kosovo Police, Samedin Mehmeti, has submitted his resignation to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, who adds that Mehmeti's request came after the last case of rape of an 11-year-old girl, for personal reasons and professional conscience. 

The citizens of Prishtina were also concerned about the case, who protested on Tuesday, demanding the publication of the names of the suspects. 

The Coalition of Organizations for Children's Rights have demanded toughening of punishments against persons who commit the criminal offense of rape, audit of the institutions that deal with these cases, provision of protection for victims and the creation of a database of those convicted of rape. 

The 11-year-old girl was raped by five people while she was out in the park in a period of seven hours.