Cuba sentences ex-Fidel Castro confidant to 20 years

Cuba sentences ex-Fidel Castro confidant to 20 years
By Shasta Darlington, CNN
May 5, 2011 -- Updated 1658 GMT (0058 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS

A Chilean businessman is convicted of bribery and fraud
The businessman is in Chile; Cuba has asked for his extradition
A former Cuban food industry minister is convicted in the same trial

Havana (CNN) -- A Cuban court has sentenced a Chilean businessman who
was once a close friend of Fidel Castro to 20 years in prison, state
media said Thursday.

Max Marambio, whose Rio Zaza company made juices and long-life milk sold
across the island, was convicted in absentia of bribery and fraud. Cuba
has asked for the extradition of Marambio, who is currently in Chile.

As part of the same trial, former Food Industry Minister Alejandro
Francisco Roca Iglesias was convicted of bribery and actions that
damaged the economy. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

State-run newspaper Granma said the court determined that the defendants
had caused considerable damage to the national economy, but did not
provide details.

Marambio once was a bodyguard for Chilean President Salvador Allende. He
went into exile in Cuba after Allende was killed in a coup in 1973 and
became very close to Fidel Castro.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/05/05/cuba.fraud.conviction/index.html?hpt=T2