Canadian company lays out defense case for its jailed CEO
Defense lawyers for a Canadian executive sentenced to 15 years prison in Cuba on bribery and other charges released a raft of documents on Sunday seeking to bolster their case that Cy Tokmakjian was denied a fair trial.
The defense documents, released to reporters by a public relations firm, say many of the charges were legally inadmissible and Tokmakjian’s acts did not constitute crimes.
Tokmakjian was convicted by a Cuban court last month and sentenced on charges of bribery, damaging the Cuban economy, illicit economic activity, currency trafficking, fraud and tax evasion, and it ordered the seizure of assets valued at $100 million.
Sixteen others including two Canadian employees of his company, the Tokmakjian Group, were convicted and sentenced to terms ranging from 6 to 20 years in a case that has strained Cuba’s relations with Canada, a major trading partner, and could deter foreigners from investing with the communist government.
Tokmakjian, 74 who was arrested three years ago, has denied wrongdoing.
Source: Reuters- Canadian company lays out defense case for its jailed CEO
