The harvest 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 procured. The success of the sowing campaign not only impacts the well-being of our region but also that of the entire state. However, many unscrupulous individuals seek to improve their financial standing by embezzling state funds and material assets allocated for the campaign. This year, within the Lepel district, 10 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, when committing theft, individuals do not consider the consequences.
Thus, 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 base units or administrative arrest. If this offence is committed repeatedly within a year, the fine ranges from 30 to 50 base units or administrative arrest.
In addition, the court recovers the amount of material damage caused and the harm incurred (damage to property, equipment, downtime). That is, the amounts recovered by the court are many times higher than the profit obtained from the theft.
Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (theft) provides for imprisonment for up to 3 years, and up to 12 years with confiscation of property, depending on the amount of damage caused.
At the same time, the internal affairs bodies, together with representatives of agricultural organizations, the Lepel District Executive Committee, the Department of Emergency Rescues, and the Prosecutor's Office of the Lepel District, have organized mobile groups that conduct daily raid activities in the evening and at night to prevent the theft of agricultural products and material assets of agricultural organizations, fuel and lubricants, as well as to ensure compliance with labor discipline at workplaces.
The conducted monitoring of agricultural organizations has shown that cases of leaving agricultural machinery in use in the yards of private homes at the place of residence or in field conditions overnight, without adequate security, are not uncommon. This only contributes to the theft of fuel and lubricants and equipment. In this regard, we would like to draw the attention of officials of agricultural organizations to take measures to ensure the safety of agricultural machinery in use overnight in field conditions and to eliminate instances of leaving it in the yards of private homes.
Head of the Department of Public Order Protection and Prevention
I.A. Mikhno.