Inconvenience for the sheriff: a pistol issued for self-defense fell into the hands of police officers

And this is very important to Z. Zenkevičius: the bailiff is a passionate hunter and needs a category B weapon to defend himself, because he often receives threats.

These circumstances became clear when the Vilnius City District Court examined the criminal case against Z. Zenkevičius, Judge Ingrida Mikužytė stated that the bailiff had committed a criminal offense, violated the rules of possession of legally owned weapons and ammunition, creating Thus conditions for another person to use them illegally.

However, the criminal case against Z. Zenkevičius was terminated: the court decided to release Z. Zenkevičius from criminal liability on bail. Sheriff Viktorija Vėliuvienė of Klaipėda, whose husband Albinas Zenkevičius is the brother of Z. Zenkevičius, agreed to guarantee this.

A. Zenkevičius also previously worked as a bailiff, but lost his position due to a criminal case brought against him: the court has stated that the bailiff was still in 2009. He took 10,000 through an intermediary. bribery in euros. That money was meant for him to set aside his own previous deal, which, in the course of legal recovery, suspended all bank account operations for a single company.

When a criminal case against Z. Zenkevičius was violated in the Vilnius City District Court for violating the rules of a firearm, Klaipeda police asked the public for help on April 20. Z. Zenkevičius’s brother disappeared without a trace. According to the police, that day he went to a shopping center in Klaipeda and did not return to his home on Malūnininkų Street, Klaipeda. Until May 1st. relatives contacted him by SMS, later, no information was received about him. A. Zenkevičius has not been found so far.

He left the gun in the training auditorium.

Sheriff Z. Zenkevičius, who works in Klaipeda, was prosecuted after the incident on January 25. – The sheriff who came to Vilnius from the mediation seminar that day to Vilnius left a bag with a combat pistol and ammunition after the training sessions in the courtroom. They were found by the organizers of the seminar; not knowing who to return the bag they left, they went to the police.

Police officers informed Z. Zenkevičius that a handbag with a pistol had been found in the meeting room that same night. They had already started a pre-trial investigation: The sheriff’s purse contained a gun that belonged to him and he acquired legally with a permit, a 13-unit pistol in his magazine. ammunition. Another round was found in the inside pocket of the bag.

Sheriff Z. Zenkevičius, who was prosecuted, told police officers during an interrogation that on January 25, around 9 o’clock, he came from Vilnius to Vilnius and participated in an all-day mediation training seminar. .

“I bought the gun for self-defense purposes, because working as a bailiff often puts my safety at risk,” said Z. Zenkevičius. “I take this gun to work every day and carry it with me all the time.”

The sheriff did not hide the fact that there were many situations in which a weapon issued in self-defense gave him security.

“More than once I had to write statements to the police about various events, and I also received threats, but so far there has been no situation where it has been necessary to withdraw or use a weapon,” said Z. Zenkevičius.

He assured that he has 4 hunting weapons, including a revolver, he received permission to keep them almost 17 years ago, he knows the rules of possession of weapons well, he always behaved responsibly and until January 25. the event never raped them.

“When I went to the seminar, I took a gun, put it in my bag, while at the seminar I took it off my shoulder and put it on a chair,” said Z. Zenkevičius. – About 25-30 people attended this seminar, a prosecutor was sitting next to me, my bag was securely attached at all times during the seminar, and the gun was at the bottom of the bag. At the end of the seminar, I went home, at that time, due to fatigue and thinking about training, I didn’t even think that I could leave my personal belongings in the training auditorium. “

Only when he returned home did the sheriff notice that he did not have a bag with a gun.

“So I started calling the people who participated in the seminar together, because I wanted to know how to contact the building manager, and I also tried to find contacts on the Internet,” said Z. Zenkevičius. “I was going to report the gun left at the General Assistance Center, but at that time the police called me and informed me that my bag with the gun had been found in the training auditorium and that I would have to go to the Vilnius. “

The sheriff recognized that fatigue and other reasons did not justify such irresponsible behavior.

“I am very critical of my actions, sorry,” said Z. Zenkevičius during the trial of the criminal case. “When I realized I had left a gun, I was surprised.”

The sheriff asked the court to release him from criminal liability on bail: his brother’s sister agreed to rescue him, as did sheriff V. Vėliuvienė, who is a “type of authority” for him.

The sheriff, who agreed to guarantee the husband’s brother, testified in court that he knew Z. Zenkevičius as much as he knew her husband; Since 1997, they had studied together and worked together for a long time.

“I communicate with Z. Zenkevičius in both business and personal matters, we also have common interests: we breed dogs, we like to travel and dive,” said V. Vėliuvienė in court. – I learned of the fact that Z. Zenkevičius left a bag with a gun in Vilnius the same day. I saw his well-being, I understand it humanly, because these trips and trainings are exhausted all day. But as a lawyer, I understand that this is a misdemeanor. “

The sheriff did not hide that he personally did not have a gun, but that it was owned by her husband.

“Of course, a weapon can provide a sense of security, because when working at a job like ours, there are cases of violence and threats,” said the Klaipėda sheriff.

Court: trustworthy

Judge I. Mikužytė, who examined the criminal case, noted that defendant Z. Zenkevičius fully admitted his guilt and gave detailed testimony.

According to the court, the Arms and Ammunition Control Law stipulates that owners and users of weapons and ammunition must ensure that weapons and ammunition are protected.

„Z. Zenkevičius, who had a permit to keep and bear arms, left a legally maintained firearm, a gun for self-defense unattended in a public place, which can be evaluated as creating real opportunities (conditions) for another person (people) illegally use a weapon (ammunition), which is confirmed by the fact that his abandoned bag with a pistol and ammunition was found by other people, who informed the police institution about it, “said the judge.

The court also ruled that there were no obstacles to releasing Z. Zenkevičius from criminal liability under the guarantee by naming V. Vėliuvienė as the guarantee. Her request to the court indicates that she has repeatedly argued with the spouse’s brother about the incident, that he understands the reasons, the essence and the consequences of her behavior.

„V. According to Vėliuvienė, these actions of Z. Zenkevičius are the only ones in her life and will not happen again, therefore, she can guarantee it, she believes that she will be able to adequately fulfill her duties as guarantor, which is confirmed by the documents attached to the application: she is positively has been convicted, not punished by an administrative procedure, constantly raises her professional qualification, in addition to legal sciences, she has also acquired higher education in psychology, “the court noted.

The verdict establishes that Z. Zenkevičius committed the crime for the first time, fully admitted his guilt and regrets having been administratively punished several times for violations related to traffic regulations, but these violations were not serious and the fines were paid, and It is characterized positively.

“The court decides there is reason to believe that Z. Zenkevičius will comply with the law and will not commit new criminal acts,” the judge believes that a bailiff who has been prosecuted is trustworthy.

In his opinion, V. Vėliuvienė is also worthy of the trust of the court, who due to close family relationships, close communication, collegial relationships and other circumstances can have a positive influence on Z. Zenkevičius and act on his behavior in such a way that the behavior that violates the legal requirements is not repeated.

The court ruled that the one and a half year guarantee would be a fair and proportional measure of sanction, and Z. Zenkevičius was prohibited from possessing and carrying a weapon.

“Although due to negligence, the act committed is related to the firearm, a source of greater danger, which causes even careless people, due to negligence, forgetfulness, etc. failure to comply with the relevant requirements can have serious consequences’, the court ruled that the criminal penalty should be imposed for a period close to the two-year court-imposed guarantee period.

The court that issued the verdict also decided to confiscate the gun and 14 units belonging to Z. Zenkevičius. ammunition: will be transferred to the Weapons Fund.