A court in Guantánamo has handed down prison sentences of 25, 20, and 17 years to three individuals found guilty of a brutal robbery against a farmer in Manuel Tames. The criminals made off with over three million pesos in this violent heist.
The official Guantánamo y su Verdad reported that the crime took place on the night of September 8, 2024. The perpetrators, concealing their identities and working as a team, ambushed the farmer near his home in La Caridad de los Indios while he was tending to his livestock.
According to the court's decision, the attackers subjected the farmer to physical violence, gagged him, tied him up, and threatened him with a homemade firearm and knives. As one assailant kept watch, the others ransacked the house, seizing more than three million pesos accumulated over two decades of agricultural labor.
The sentences were issued after considering the “high social danger” posed by the crime, the extreme violence used, and the direct involvement of the accused. The severity of the penalties—25, 20, and 17 years—was based on the individual participation and specific circumstances surrounding each defendant's role in the crime.
In response to increasing crime, the government has launched its Third National Exercise to prevent and combat crime, corruption, drug trafficking, and social disorder. This massive operation, under the Communist Party, Ministry of the Interior, and other state entities, will run until Saturday, June 28.
Amidst this backdrop, the Cuban regime has intensified its strategy of holding public trials as a deterrent against criminal activities that challenge its social control. In Niquero, Granma, officials conducted another public trial designed to demonstrate institutional power, targeting individuals involved in criminal acts.
Similarly, a 64-year-old Venezuelan woman was sentenced for drug trafficking in Santiago de Cuba, with the court emphasizing the international connections of her crime to justify the harsh punishment. These incidents are part of a broader, stricter penal policy by authorities seeking to reinforce the judiciary's authority through public demonstrations of punishment.
As part of the current national crisis preparedness exercise, the regime is conducting high-profile trials across the country, emphasizing its firm grip on law and order.
Understanding Cuba's Judicial Crackdown
What led to the severe sentencing in Guantánamo?
The severe sentences were a response to the violent nature of the crime, the significant amount stolen, and the high social danger posed by the offenders' actions.
What is the Third National Exercise in Cuba?
The Third National Exercise is a government initiative aimed at preventing and combating crime, corruption, drug trafficking, and social disorder, involving multiple state entities.
Why is the Cuban government conducting public trials?
Public trials are part of a strategy to deter criminal activities by showcasing strict enforcement and the judiciary's authority, aiming to maintain social control.