A welder from Novogrudok made brass knuckles and became the subject of a criminal case.

Photo by the Investigative Committee for the Grodno Region, December 20, Minsk . The Novogrudok District Department of the Investigative Committee is investigating the circumstances of illegal actions involving bladed weapons, Inna Poznyak, official spokesperson for the Investigative Committee for the Grodno Region, told BelTA.

It was established that a 29-year-old resident of the district center was released from prison at the end of September this year. Having knowledge of welding, the man got a job as a welder at a local factory. And one day in October, while at his place of residence, he made brass knuckles from scrap materials (metal, nuts, and washers).

In late October, he and his partner were drinking alcohol whenThe group ran out of alcohol and decided to go to a local bar for more. Along the way, the intoxicated group was detained by police. During a search, a brass knuckle duster was found along with the man's

personal belongings. The man told the investigator that he had made the weapon himself at home. Initially, he claimed it was for self-defense. He later changed his story and said he made the knuckle duster as a souvenir. Fortunately, he didn't have time to use it.

According to the expert examination, the knuckle duster is a homemade bladed weapon with a crushing action.

It was established that the man had multiple prior criminal convictions for theft, carjacking, and drug trafficking.

The Novogrudok District Department of the Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case against the 29-year-old local resident under Part 2 of Article 296 (illegal manufacture of a bladed weapon) of the Criminal Code. The investigation is ongoing.

As the Investigative Committee clarified, criminal liability for illegal actions involving bladed weapons is regulated by Article 296 of the Criminal Code. The maximum penalty for the illegal manufacture or sale of bladed weapons is up to two years' imprisonment, and for repeat offenders, up to three years' imprisonment.