Former Deputy Minister of Sugar Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Corruption

Former Deputy Minister of Sugar Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for
Corruption / 14ymedio
Posted on September 29, 2014

14ymedio, 29 September 2014 – Fourteen Cubans have been sentenced to
between 6 and 20 years in prison in the corruption case known as
"Tokmakjian." Nelson Labrada, the Sugar deputy minister and Ernesto
Gomex, former director of the state mining company Ferro, are among the
group and have been sentenced to 20 years and 12 years in prison,
respectively.

The case, which raised great concern among investors in Cuban
businesses, tried several Cuban and foreign businessmen for the crimes
of bribery, forgery of bank documents, fraud, trafficking in hard
currency and tax evasion associated tih the Tokmakjian Group. The
Canadian company had businesses in Cuba for for more than twenty years,
particularly in sales of transportation equipment, mining and construction.

Last Saturday the conviction of Cy Tokmakjian, age 74 and founder of
group, was sentenced to 15 years, of which he has already served three
since his arrest. Claudio Vetere, company spokesperson, and Chief
Financial Officer Marco Puche, were sentenced to 12 and 8 years in
prison respectively. Cuba also seized about $ 100 million in company assets.

Source: Former Deputy Minister of Sugar Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison
for Corruption / 14ymedio | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/former-deputy-minister-of-sugar-sentenced-to-20-years-in-prison-for-corruption-14ymedio/