The former director of the Municipal Commerce Company of Sancti Spíritus has been sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption, according to a report published in the official newspaper Escambray.
Alexis Fuentes de La Cruz, who led the entity from May 2022 to July 2023, was accused of engaging in activities detrimental to the economy and irregularities in contracting during his tenure. In a context where the regime claims to be waging a battle against such acts, exemplified in the case of former Minister of Economy and Planning Alejandro Gil Fernández, also mentioned in the Escambray article, Fuentes de La Cruz still has the option to appeal the sentence.
Judicial Proceedings and Sentence
According to the court ruling, the tribunal initially convicted the director for ignoring a recommendation that warned of “irregularities” in a contractual relationship with a private business. This warning was related to 42,000 units of Pool soda sold to the state company, despite being near their expiration date.
Moreover, Fuentes de La Cruz was accused of falsifying documents to conceal these irregularities and avoid significant economic losses, which would amount to 3,241,860 Cuban pesos due to the potential non-sale of 22,830 sodas. The report highlights that, despite warnings from the Provincial Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology, four of the company's 12 units did not halt their sales. “Those establishments continued selling the soda at their own risk,” the report noted.
Escambray points out that the accused exhibited a double standard and recalls reporting five cases of embezzlement in company units that required statements from the director. “Today, we have stricter internal controls and a more direct approach to combating crime and corruption in our units. Our inspections are comprehensive and unannounced,” he told the press.
Other Corruption Cases in Sancti Spíritus
This is not the first corruption case to surface in Sancti Spíritus in 2024. Last April, a 26-year-old Cuban was sentenced by the Provincial Tribunal to 18 years in prison for stealing a large sum of money from the Popular Camping Company in the region. The damage was valued at a total of 7,968,669.50 Cuban pesos and was detected through continuous money transfers between the entity's accounts. The complaint was filed on May 24, 2023, according to Escambray.
The young man, who was not identified in the report, served as a specialist B in Economic Management within the Accounting and Financial Department of the Popular Camping Company in Sancti Spíritus.
Key Questions About Corruption in Sancti Spíritus
Given the recent corruption cases in Sancti Spíritus, many questions arise about the implications and details of these incidents. Here, we address some of the most pressing inquiries related to these events.
What were the main charges against Alexis Fuentes de La Cruz?
Alexis Fuentes de La Cruz was charged with engaging in activities detrimental to the economy, irregularities in contracting, and falsifying documents to conceal these activities.
How did the authorities detect the irregularities in the Popular Camping Company case?
The irregularities were detected through continuous money transfers between the entity's accounts, which raised suspicions and led to further investigation.
What measures are being taken to combat corruption in Sancti Spíritus?
Authorities have implemented stricter internal controls and comprehensive, unannounced inspections to combat crime and corruption within their units.