Serbian star makes profit from crime sentence

Ceca is one of the country's most popular stars. (AAP)

A Serbian warlord widow has "profited" from crime after a court issued a $2 million fine, despite her admitting embezzling more than $3 million in football club transfer fees.

In a trial that has entranced the Serbian population, pop star Ceca will have to pay the fine but only has to endure eight months under house arrest — which has been considered a lenient sentence given the charges carried a maximum of 12 years in prison.

Ceca, whose real name is Svetlana Raznatovic, pleaded guilty to embezzling millions of euros from the football club Obilic, which was formerly owned by her late husband.

The "Queen of Kitsch" used the transfers of players to cover her tracks.

The charges claimed she embezzled $3.05 million from foreign transfers, which means she was left with a $1.06 million profit from her crimes after paying the fine.

Belgrade lawyer Slobodan Beljanski told the newspaper Blic: "Raznatovic has profited from committing a criminal offence." Human rights activists and lawyers are arguing the case proves the legal system is unjust, but the judge praised her "good character".

Before Raznatovic's husband died in 2000, the football club was a contender in the European circuit, making it to the Champions League qualifying round in the 1997-98 season.

It is now struggling to perform in the amateur league.

Raznatovic is Serbia's biggest celebrity and is extremely wealthy in her own right.