Forces from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) have dismantled a network of administrative corruption in Guantánamo that embezzled millions of pesos from a local gastronomy company. A report from the Cuban Television News (NTV) specified that the investigation discovered the illegal extraction of more than seven million pesos in products intended for the Municipal Gastronomy Company of Guantánamo, which never reached their final destination.
Criminal instructor Juan Martínez Martínez explained that one of the most complex aspects of the case was the number of people and companies involved. The MININT officer detailed that reconciliations between the parties, a standard procedure in business economics, were conducted with fraudulent invoices. These documents, obtained from suppliers, were presented as valid to the gastronomy company, which paid for goods it never received.
Among the diverted products were rum, beer, chicken, and sausages, leading to the complete decapitalization of the company and its eventual dissolution, affecting all its workers. The implicated individuals, accused of falsification of controls and primary documentation, are now subject to criminal proceedings.
The embezzlement has a high social cost, explained provincial prosecutor Yumara Souteran Padilla to NTV, indicating that this type of crime is punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment under the Cuban Penal Code. Authorities continue to investigate to determine the full extent of the corruption network and ensure justice is served in this case that has significantly impacted the economy and trust in local institutions.
Focus on Crime, Corruption, and Illegalities
Amid the backdrop of the VIII Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) held in early July, where the agenda highlighted food production and crime control, the official Cuban press has intensified coverage of efforts to combat crime, corruption, and illegalities.
Earlier in April, a 26-year-old Cuban was sentenced by the Provincial Court of the province of Sancti Spíritus to 18 years of imprisonment for stealing a large sum of money from the Popular Camping Company of that territory. The damage was valued at a total of 7,968,669.50 Cuban pesos and was detected by continuous money movements between the entity’s accounts. The complaint was made on May 24, 2023, according to the official newspaper Escambray.
The young man, who was not identified, served as a specialist in Economic Management of the Accounting and Financial Directorate belonging to the Popular Camping Company of Sancti Spíritus. The investigation determined that he transferred cash to his personal account on four occasions within a month, from September 2022 to May 2023. After the company’s complaint, the police arrested the young man at his home in the municipality of Trinidad, and confiscated the items acquired with the stolen money.
The Provincial Popular Court of Sancti Spíritus sentenced the accused to 18 years of imprisonment for being the author of a crime of continuous falsification of banking or commercial documents, as a means or end to commit embezzlement. As ancillary penalties, they seized the equipment acquired with this money, including those transferred to other people, such as: flat-screen TV (55 inches), refrigerator, freezer, two scooters, among others.
“Effective administrative confrontation is not achieved in factories, warehouses, where problems originate in most cases. Population dissatisfaction persists, evidencing that work is still insufficient. Actions, especially preventive ones, must be intensified,” emphasized Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz in early June, calling for an analysis of the “causes and conditions” that favor criminal behavior in the country.
Recently, Marrero Cruz advocated in Cienfuegos for stricter measures against crime, corruption, and illegalities, in line with the times of “war economy.”
“I receive opinions from the population. They say: ‘Hey, you say we are in a war economy, but the penalties are not consistent with that war economy.’ It is an exceptional situation, where the main problems suffered by the people, if someone commits such an action, greater rigor must be applied,” said the leader in a new call for “confrontation” and to leave “leniency” behind.
Understanding the Impact of Corruption and Crime in Cuba
This section provides answers to some common questions regarding the recent corruption and crime cases in Cuba, highlighting their impact on the local economy and society.
What was the main product involved in the Guantánamo corruption case?
The main products involved were rum, beer, chicken, and sausages.
How did the authorities detect the embezzlement in Sancti Spíritus?
The embezzlement was detected through continuous money movements between the accounts of the Popular Camping Company.
What penalties are imposed for embezzlement under the Cuban Penal Code?
Embezzlement can be punished with up to 20 years of imprisonment under the Cuban Penal Code.
What actions did the Prime Minister suggest to combat crime and corruption?
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz suggested intensifying preventive actions and applying stricter measures against crime and corruption.