• Submitted by: manso
• Politics and Government
• 06 / 07 / 2011

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2nd Chilean businessman sentenced in absentia; 15 years as part of Cuban corruption case. On Monday June 6, 2011, 9:35 pm EDT. HAVANA (AP) -- A Cuban court sentenced a second Chilean businessman to prison for corruption following a trial in absentia, authorities announced Monday.

Marcel Marambio was given 15 years for fraud, bribery and falsification of documents in a case related to the operation of a travel agency, said an official message read on the nightly newscast of Cuba's state television.

"Marambio Rodriguez took advantage of the mixed company Sol y Son Viajes SA to defraud the Cuban side (of the venture) for his own gain, hiding information and bribing Cuban officials so they would go along with his shady dealings," it said.

Fifteen people of Cuban nationality received 3- to 10-year sentences.

Cuban authorities said last year that Marambio was living in the Chilean capital, Santiago. He was identified as vice president of Compania International Network Group, a Chile-based conglomerate whose interests included Rio Zaza, a Cuban food distributor co-owned with Cuba's government.

Marambio is the brother of Max Marambio, who last month was sentenced to 20 years -- also in absentia -- in a corruption case involving Rio Zaza.

Max Marambio, a revolutionary-turned-businessman and longtime friend of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, denied the charges and called them politically motivated.

Former Cuban Food Minister Alejandro Roca Iglesias got 15 years in the same case.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Cuba-sentences-2nd-Chilean-apf-3418060712....