The sowing campaign has commenced in the Vitebsk region. The state has allocated substantial funds for its execution, including fuel and lubricants, and diesel fuel. Reconstruction of agricultural product storage facilities has been carried out, and expensive equipment has been purchased. The success of the sowing campaign is crucial not only for the well-being of our region but also for the entire state. However, many unscrupulous individuals seek to improve their financial situation by embezzling state funds and material assets allocated for the campaign. This year, in the Lepel district, 3 citizens have been brought to administrative responsibility under Article 10.5 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus for the theft of state property from agricultural facilities.
Often, individuals do not consider the consequences when committing theft.
Article 10.5 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus (petty theft) stipulates a penalty in the form of a fine ranging from 10 to 30 basic units (up to 5.4 million rubles) or administrative arrest. If this offense is committed repeatedly within a year, the fine ranges from 30 to 50 basic units or administrative arrest.
In addition, the court will recover the amount of material damage caused and any resulting harm (damage to property, equipment, downtime of working hours). This means that the sums recovered by the court significantly exceed the profit obtained from the theft.
Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (theft), depending on the amount of damage caused, provides for imprisonment for up to 3 years, and up to 12 years with confiscation of property.
Meanwhile, the internal affairs bodies, in conjunction with representatives of agricultural organizations, the Lepel District Executive Committee, the District Department for Emergency Situations (ROCHS), and the Prosecutor's Office of the Lepel District, have organized mobile groups. These groups conduct daily raids in the evening and at night to prevent the theft of agricultural products, material assets of agricultural organizations, fuel, and lubricants, as well as to ensure compliance with labor discipline in the workplace.
Monitoring of agricultural organizations has revealed frequent cases of agricultural machinery being left overnight in the yards of private residences or in fields without adequate security. This only facilitates the theft of fuel, lubricants, and equipment. In this regard, we wish to draw the attention of officials of agricultural organizations to the need to take measures to ensure the security of agricultural machinery used overnight in fields and to prevent it from being left in the yards of private homes.
Deputy Head of the Department of Public Order and Prevention
and Crime Prevention Kozlov I.N.