Up to 8-year prison sentences for 21 people in Havana, for “continuous bribery”

Those sanctioned were accused of falsifying banking and commercial documents so that clients paid less on their bill, in exchange for money, equipment “or other gifts.”

The Provincial Court of Havana sanctioned 21 people with sentences ranging from financial fines to eight years in prison. They were accused of “the crime of ongoing bribery,” according to a Tuesday report on national television.

Among the accused are seven officials from the capital’s electricity enterprise; they mentioned an administrator, a computer scientist, an inspector, and several collectors. In addition, fourteen clients from the residential sector, considered “large consumers,” in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality.

“Corruption can destroy a country,” says Díaz-Canel

Those sanctioned were accused of falsifying banking and commercial documents so that said number of clients would pay less on their bill, in exchange for money, equipment “or other gifts.” The report did not specify whether the sentences were final.

According to the nightly news, the trial against these people, which did not say what date it occurred, took place after an internal investigation by the state enterprise.

The authorities linked to the process explained in the television report that among the main people involved are the provincial commercial management administrator of the electricity enterprise, who “altered the database” to falsify the invoice.

Likewise, a director of the electricity enterprise added to state television that some customers had stopped paying more than 100,000 pesos (equivalent to $833 at the official exchange rate).

Last weekend, President Miguel Díaz-Canel urged prosecutors to confront with “zero tolerance” the acts of corruption that exist in the country at “different statuses and levels” because these acts “lacerate” and “erode the moral basis of society.”

Recently, official media reported on the theft of 133 tons of frozen chicken at the state-owned enterprise Copmar, in Havana. As a result, 30 people were charged and could face penalties of up to 20 years in prison.

This event generated uncertainty in the population, a strong judicial response and a call from the government and the Communist Party to use a “firm hand” against crime.