Kazakhstan court fines woman over cartridge found in airport luggage

A woman in Kazakhstan has been fined after a 12-gauge cartridge for a smoothbore hunting firearm was found in her bag during a security check at Shymkent Airport.

The incident was announced by the Administrative Court of Taraz City. The passenger was travelling from Shymkent to Zhezkazgan when the ammunition was discovered during screening, Caliber.Az reports, citing Kazakh media.

The woman admitted to the offence, saying she had inadvertently placed the cartridge in her bag and was unaware of how it had ended up there. An expert examination determined that the cartridge was factory-produced and fit for firing.

The court found her guilty of storing and transporting an unregistered cartridge. Taking her remorse into consideration, the court reduced the fine by 30%.

She was ordered to pay 60,000 tenge, equivalent to approximately $130. The confiscated cartridge will be destroyed.

The court ruling has entered into legal force.

By Vafa Guliyeva