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Cuba hands down 15-year sentence to Canadian executive | Cuba hands down 15-year sentence to Canadian executive |
(1 day later) | |
A court in Cuba has sentenced the president of a Canadian transport company to 15 years in jail for bribery. | A court in Cuba has sentenced the president of a Canadian transport company to 15 years in jail for bribery. |
Cy Tokmakjian, 74, was detained in Cuba in 2011 as part an anti-corruption operation. He denies the charges. | Cy Tokmakjian, 74, was detained in Cuba in 2011 as part an anti-corruption operation. He denies the charges. |
The Tokmakjian Group said the court had seized its assets in Cuba, worth about $100m (£62m). | The Tokmakjian Group said the court had seized its assets in Cuba, worth about $100m (£62m). |
The company said the ruling was a worrying development for potential investors on the Communist-run island. | |
"Lack of due process doesn't begin to describe the travesty of justice that is being suffered by foreign businessmen in Cuba," the company said in a statement. | "Lack of due process doesn't begin to describe the travesty of justice that is being suffered by foreign businessmen in Cuba," the company said in a statement. |
Two other executives from the Tokmakjian Group - fellow Canadian citizens Claudio Vetere and Marco Puche - were sentenced to eight and 12 years in prison. | Two other executives from the Tokmakjian Group - fellow Canadian citizens Claudio Vetere and Marco Puche - were sentenced to eight and 12 years in prison. |
The Ontario-based company sold transportation, mining and construction equipment to Cuba for more than 20 years. | |
There has been no comment on the case from the Cuban authorities. | There has been no comment on the case from the Cuban authorities. |
Claims | Claims |
Its offices in Havana were seized in 2011 when President Raul Castro launched a major drive against corruption in the Caribbean nation. | Its offices in Havana were seized in 2011 when President Raul Castro launched a major drive against corruption in the Caribbean nation. |
Fourteen Cubans, including two high-ranking officials, were also convicted and sentenced in the case. | |
Canadian MP Peter Kent visited Mr Tokmakjian in jail last year. | Canadian MP Peter Kent visited Mr Tokmakjian in jail last year. |
"The trial was, from almost any measure, extraordinarily unfair and rigged," Mr Kent told the Financial Post newspaper. | "The trial was, from almost any measure, extraordinarily unfair and rigged," Mr Kent told the Financial Post newspaper. |
The Tokmakjian Group was the sole representative of South Korean company Hyundai in Cuba, which has been making efforts to replace its ageing car and bus fleet. | The Tokmakjian Group was the sole representative of South Korean company Hyundai in Cuba, which has been making efforts to replace its ageing car and bus fleet. |
The company has launched claims worth more than $200m (£123) against Cuba through the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris and Canada's Ontario Superior Court. | The company has launched claims worth more than $200m (£123) against Cuba through the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris and Canada's Ontario Superior Court. |
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