The upscale Cuban restaurant El Laurel, situated near the exclusive Marina Hemingway canals in Havana, might have been targeted by Cuban authorities, according to unverified images and reports circulating on social media.
Leaked videos on various social media profiles show what appears to be an intervention by inspectors and authorities dressed in civilian clothing at the restaurant premises. These individuals are seen entering the establishment, recording the staff and presumed owners with their cell phones.
Images of an Operational Guard vehicle at the scene suggest the presence of agents from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) at El Laurel. The intrusion of dozens of alleged plainclothes agents provoked reactions from people at the venue, who tried to block their entry but were ultimately powerless against the mysterious operation.
At the time of writing, the reasons behind the dramatic incident remain unknown. Neither the authorities nor the official press have commented on the event.
Social Media Reactions
In the Instagram stories of El Laurel, messages related to the incident can be seen, affirming that El Laurel remains open and continues to offer its services as usual. However, unconfirmed reports suggesting that the establishment "has fallen out of favor" are gaining traction by the hour.
"El Laurel has completely shut down. Apparently, no one knows what's happening, and it's [on fire] right now. I'm posting the videos in the stories," said the influencer known as un_martitodurako8 on Instagram, who specializes in Cuban celebrity news.
The Allegation Circulating on Social Media
In addition to the videos, social media profiles have leaked a complaint apparently filed by Mirian Casañas Tuya. On El Laurel's Facebook profile, it reads: "Paladar El Laurel, established in 1996; created by Gilberto L Casañas and Mirian Tuya."
The text of the complaint, mostly illegible in the photos shared on social media, states:
"The complainant, aware of the provisions of Articles 198 and 199 of the current Penal Code and the criminal liability incurred for making a false report or accusation or simulating a crime, states that at 04:00 hours on 03/09/24 in Santa Fe [blurred address], Playa municipality, Havana province, files a complaint against citizen Ángel Eliseo Álvarez Chediak [ID number] as he entered her residence located [restaurant address] without her consent, cutting the wires of the fence.
The reported facts may constitute the crime of domicile violation, provided for and sanctioned in Article 380 of the current Penal Code. Signed: Mirian Casañas Tuya."
According to a note published on Radio Reloj on March 16, 2023, the accused Ángel Eliseo Álvarez Chediak is the owner of the Havana-based medium-sized company Marinada Plus, "one of the more than six thousand MSMEs approved in the country to date, as part of the economic actors' improvement being carried out on the island."
In the note titled "A Bet for Cuba," it is reported that Marinada Plus was established in March 2022 and is "dedicated to services." Álvarez Chediak stated that "becoming an entrepreneur entails more responsibility" and that "being a legal entity has allowed him to establish agreements with state companies and access the international market to acquire the raw materials needed for his restaurant, located at what was once El Laurel, in the Playa municipality of the capital."
It is evident that El Laurel is at the center of a whirlwind involving the "new economic actors" of the Cuban regime. With the information available to this editorial team, it remains unclear who owns El Laurel or what precisely is happening with this private business, a reference point for the "jet set" of the Cuban regime.
The story surrounding the unprecedented images is further complicated by rumors that El Laurel has been managed "for years by frontmen of Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, alias 'El Cangrejo,' grandson of Raúl Castro Ruz," a figure associated with various alleged shady dealings in Cuba, some related to drug trafficking and prostitution.
Penalties for False Reporting or Accusation in the Current Penal Code
Article 198.1 establishes that: “Anyone who, knowing that they are lying and with the intent to initiate a criminal process against another person, attributes to them, before the Police, the criminal investigator, the prosecutor, or the court, facts that, if true, would constitute a crime, shall be punished by imprisonment for six months to two years or by a fine of two hundred to five hundred units, or both;
b) simulates the existence of traces, signs, or other material evidence or suppresses or alters those that exist, with the intention of incriminating another person as responsible for a crime, shall be punished by the same penalty.
2. If, as a result of the false report or accusation, the offended person suffers serious harm, the penalty shall be imprisonment for three to eight years.
Article 199.1 establishes that: “Anyone who, intentionally, when appearing as a witness, victim, or injured party, expert, or interpreter, before a competent court or official, gives false testimony or fails to state what they know about the matter being questioned, shall be punished by imprisonment for one to three years or by a fine of three hundred to a thousand units, or both.
2. If the false testimony of the witness, victim, or injured party is given in exchange for a bribe, gift, or any other advantage or benefit, or promise thereof, the penalty shall be imprisonment for two to five years or by a fine of five hundred to a thousand units, or both.
3. The same penalty provided for in the previous paragraph shall apply to anyone who gives a bribe, gift, any other advantage or benefit, or promise or offer thereof, to the witness, victim, or injured party to give false testimony.
4. If the false testimony results in serious harm, the minimum and maximum limits of the penalty shall be increased by half if it is a judicial process.
5. If any of the persons mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 testifies about the same facts in the investigative phase and in the oral trial, only the false testimony given in the latter shall be imputable.
6. Anyone who retracts their false testimony, when it is still possible to avoid the effects thereof, shall be exempt from punishment for perjury.
Key Questions About the Situation at El Laurel
Given the confusion and lack of clarity surrounding the events at El Laurel, several pressing questions have arisen. Here are some key questions and answers to help understand the situation better:
What triggered the intervention at El Laurel?
The exact reasons behind the intervention remain unknown. The authorities have not provided any official statements, and the incident's underlying causes are still unclear.
Is El Laurel still operational?
According to messages on El Laurel's Instagram stories, the restaurant continues to operate normally. However, unconfirmed reports suggest that the establishment could be facing significant issues.
Who currently owns El Laurel?
The ownership of El Laurel is currently unclear. Various reports and rumors suggest different potential owners, but no definitive information is available at this time.
What are the penalties for false reporting in Cuba?
Cuban law stipulates severe penalties for false reporting. Article 198.1 of the Penal Code outlines imprisonment and fines for those who knowingly make false accusations with the intent to initiate a criminal process against someone else.