Castro Corrupt Regime Imprisons Business Partners

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Cy Tokmakjian

According to Reuters:

Canadian and British executives of three foreign businesses shut in 2011 by Cuban authorities, ostensibly for corrupt practices, have been charged after more than a year in custody and are expected to go on trial soon, sources close to the cases told Reuters.

This is fascinating in so many ways.

First of all, the most corrupt actors in Cuba are the Castro brothers themselves, who have militarized the economy, monopolized every sector on the island, conducted illicit activities, funneled billions into foreign accounts and perfected nepotism.

Note that the three foreign businessmen in prison were among the Castro brother's closest business partners for many years.

Sarkis Yacoubian

They are Sarkis Yacoubian of Canada's Tri-Star Caribbean, Cy Tokmakjian of Canada's Tokmakjian Group and Amado Fakhre of Britain's Coral Capital Group Ltd.

Like some of today's ingenious businessmen looking for deals in Cuba, they all believed they had a special relationship with the Castros, that their investments were secure from the brother's long-time larcenous practices and that they were smarter than everyone else.

Amado Fakhre

Throughout this time, they have been held in undisclosed prison locations, where they have been subject to intense interrogations and God knows what else.

They have no rights and remain at the absolute whim of Cuba's dictators.

It's hard to feel sorry for any of these unscrupulous businessmen who for years sought to enrich themselves and Cuba's tyrants, at the cost of repressed people.

But it stands as a lesson for all those who want to engage in business with the Castros and their monopolies.

After all, who haven't the Castro brothers ripped off in the last five decades?

They have now been held without trial or charges for over a year-and-a-half -- and their businesses and bank accounts confiscated.