Cuba jails top Communist member

Cuba jails top Communist member

Cuba has sentenced a once high-flying government member to 12 years in
prison for corruption, the Cuban Communist Party has announced.

Juan Carlos Robinson, expelled from the ruling Politburo in April,
pleaded guilty, official media reported.

Robinson, 49, had been seen as an example of Cuba's future leadership.

President Fidel Castro, who turns 80 in August, last year vowed to stamp
out corruption which he said threatened the survival of Cuba's socialist
system.

Robinson was tried and convicted last week, the official Granma
newspaper said.

"It was demonstrated that Robinson, in the open process of his
ideological weakening and with abuse of his position, forgot his high
responsibilities and the integrity demanded of a revolutionary cadre and
used his influence to obtain benefits," said Granma.

Changes

Robinson was one of the few Afro-Cuban political figures on the island
and had been presented by the government as an example of Cuba's young
black leadership.

But in April he was sacked from the ruling Politburo, accused of
arrogance, dishonesty and abuse of power.

On Wednesday, the party leadership indicated that Robinson's fate should
be an example, saying "in our country, no-one despite their
responsibilities and merits can violate the law. He who does so will
inexorably receive the weight of revolutionary justice."

Robinson's conviction comes amid a series of changes in the Communist
Party across the island, with several top officials being replaced.

The government has said increased vigilance against corruption is
required as the country emerges from what was labelled its "special
period" - more than 15 years of serious economic hardship following the
demise of its former benefactor, the Soviet Union.

Late last year, President Castro announced an anti-corruption campaign.

Thousands of students were deployed to work at petrol stations to deter
pilfering while others have been sent into state companies to audit
accounts.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/5103440.stm

Published: 2006/06/21 16:40:01 GMT