This past Sunday, the Municipal Assembly of People's Power in La Lisa, Havana, firmly denied allegations that their president, Yoamel Acosta Morales, had been arrested on corruption charges. These claims emerged after the digital outlet La Tijera reported that Acosta Morales was under investigation for allegedly embezzling electric scooters.
According to La Tijera's Facebook post, Acosta Morales, who also serves as a deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power and is a member of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), was reportedly detained following the discovery of 20 missing electric scooters intended for municipal entities. The report further suggested that Acosta Morales had been previously linked to other irregularities in managing state resources, though no official documents were provided to support these allegations.
In response, the La Lisa Municipal Assembly released a statement on Facebook entitled "Official Rebuttal of False Allegations Against the President of the Municipal Assembly," labeling the information as "lacking in truth" and asserting that Acosta Morales "continues to perform his duties with full commitment and transparency." The statement emphasized there is "no evidence" to support the accusations and encouraged citizens to rely on "official channels" for information, urging them not to be swayed by "disinformation campaigns."
The statement also highlighted Acosta Morales's leadership in current initiatives focused on cleaning, reorganizing communal services, and addressing the needs of vulnerable neighborhoods as part of the municipality's comprehensive improvement plan. As of now, no independent evidence has surfaced to definitively confirm or refute the claims made by either side. Moreover, no official comments have been released by the provincial government of Havana or the Communist Party regarding the case.
The situation has sparked debate on social media, with users expressing divided opinions. Some call for greater institutional transparency in the face of any allegations of wrongdoing, while others emphasize the importance of verifying information before sharing it on digital platforms.
In a context where access to official data is limited and state and alternative media offer differing versions of events, independently verifying corruption allegations in Cuba remains a challenge. This leaves the public caught between skepticism and a lack of verifiable information.
While the La Lisa government denies the accusations against Yoamel Acosta Morales, other Communist Party officials have started to publicly acknowledge that corruption cases are not isolated incidents. In Las Tunas, a government official admitted that "everything will be revealed," seemingly attempting to manage the growing discontent over recent scandals.
One of the most notable cases involved a high-ranking government official sentenced to 15 years in prison for economic crimes. The official press detailed systemic practices of resource diversion and document forgery, yet avoided addressing networks of complicity within the power structures. Simultaneously, a massive fraud in the coal trade surfaced in Mayabeque, implicating a private entrepreneur and exposing significant institutional control issues over exports. The operation, according to the investigation, lasted several months with state entities' complicity.
Additionally, in Sancti Spíritus, five officials faced administrative sanctions for negligence and irregularities related to public resource management. Although the case did not reach the courts, it highlighted a pattern of impunity where consequences rarely translate into criminal liabilities.
Understanding Corruption Allegations in Cuba
What are the allegations against Yoamel Acosta Morales?
Yoamel Acosta Morales is accused of being involved in the disappearance of 20 electric scooters meant for municipal entities, as reported by a digital outlet. He has also been previously linked to other resource management irregularities.
How has the La Lisa Municipal Assembly responded to these accusations?
The La Lisa Municipal Assembly issued a statement denying the allegations, labeling them as false and asserting that Acosta Morales continues to fulfill his role with transparency and dedication.
What has been the public and social media reaction?
The allegations have sparked debate on social media, with divided opinions. Some call for increased transparency from institutions, while others stress the importance of verifying information before dissemination.