TUZLA, Bosnia-Herzegovina -- A couple who allegedly beat a young woman while keeping her locked up for years have been arrested in Bosnia, an official said Sunday.

Cazim Makalic holds up a portrait of a teenage German woman in Kalesija near Tuzla, 120km (75 miles) north from the capital Sarajevo, May 27, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

The 19-year-old girl was rescued after villagers tipped off authorities that she was being abused, the spokesman for the prosecutor's office in Tuzla, Admir Arnautovic, told The Associated Press. He said Milenko Marinkovic, 52, and his wife Slavojka, 45, were detained on suspicion of illegal imprisonment in a particularly cruel way.

The teenager, who was not named by authorities, was rescued and the couple detained on May 17th, but officials delayed announcing that while making sure the victim was  is safe and questioning witnesses.  Arnautovic said the teen was "disoriented" when police found her and had clearly visible injuries.

"She now feels much better," the spokesman said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

Villagers in Karavlasi village told media the couple were treating the girl like a slave, forcing her to sleep with pigs and to pull a horse cart while being whipped.

Media reported the girl is the daughter of Marinkovic's first wife, a German who still lives in the village and who has denied the accusations against the couple.

Villagers interviewed by local TV stations said they no longer could watch what was being done to the girl and called the police.