Simple Storage - Serious Punishment
In the past period of 2020, law enforcement agencies in the Beshenkovichi district identified 6 cases of illegal actions involving firearms, ammunition, and explosives. Meanwhile, these actions were criminally punishable.
For example, the district prosecutor's office supported the state prosecution in a criminal case against a 55-year-old resident of our district. During the preliminary and judicial investigation of this criminal case, it was established that in June 2017, the accused found hunting powder in the attic of his parents' house. However, he did not wish to hand it over to the internal affairs department of the Beshenkovichi District Executive Committee, as required by law, and moved the explosive substance to his living quarters, where he illegally stored it until January 2020, when internal affairs officers knocked on his door demanding the surrender of prohibited substances.
The accused fully admitted his guilt in court and sincerely repented of his actions. In response to the state prosecutor's questions, he stated that he was aware that these items were prohibited from free circulation in the Republic of Belarus and that they should have been handed over to the police, but he did not do so because he decided to keep them.
Considering the position of the state prosecution, the court found the accused guilty of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 295 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus and sentenced him to correctional labor for 1 year and 6 months with a deduction of 20% of his earnings to the state, without a fine.
For reference, the sanction of Part 2 of Article 295 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus for illegal actions involving firearms, ammunition, and explosives provides for punishment in the form of correctional labor for up to two years, or arrest, or restriction of liberty for up to five years, or imprisonment for up to seven years with or without a fine.
In this regard, we would like to once again warn residents of the district that, by law, a person who voluntarily surrenders firearms, ammunition, or explosives is exempt from criminal liability.
Prosecutor of Beshenkovichi District
Junior Counselor of Justice A.A. Starchenko
For example, the district prosecutor's office supported the state prosecution in a criminal case against a 55-year-old resident of our district. During the preliminary and judicial investigation of this criminal case, it was established that in June 2017, the accused found hunting powder in the attic of his parents' house. However, he did not wish to hand it over to the internal affairs department of the Beshenkovichi District Executive Committee, as required by law, and moved the explosive substance to his living quarters, where he illegally stored it until January 2020, when internal affairs officers knocked on his door demanding the surrender of prohibited substances.
The accused fully admitted his guilt in court and sincerely repented of his actions. In response to the state prosecutor's questions, he stated that he was aware that these items were prohibited from free circulation in the Republic of Belarus and that they should have been handed over to the police, but he did not do so because he decided to keep them.
Considering the position of the state prosecution, the court found the accused guilty of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 295 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus and sentenced him to correctional labor for 1 year and 6 months with a deduction of 20% of his earnings to the state, without a fine.
For reference, the sanction of Part 2 of Article 295 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus for illegal actions involving firearms, ammunition, and explosives provides for punishment in the form of correctional labor for up to two years, or arrest, or restriction of liberty for up to five years, or imprisonment for up to seven years with or without a fine.
In this regard, we would like to once again warn residents of the district that, by law, a person who voluntarily surrenders firearms, ammunition, or explosives is exempt from criminal liability.
Prosecutor of Beshenkovichi District
Junior Counselor of Justice A.A. Starchenko