Britons on trial in Cuba corruption crackdown

Posted on Thursday, 05.30.13



Britons on trial in Cuba corruption crackdown

The Associated Press



HAVANA -- Two British businessmen targeted in a corruption probe in Cuba

went on trial Thursday, as authorities continue to press a crackdown on

graft that has caught up several other foreigners and dozens of islanders.



A court official identified suspects Amado Fakhre, a British citizen of

Lebanese origin who was executive director of Coral Capital Group, and

fellow Briton Stephen Purvis, the investment firm's chief of operations.



A half-dozen Cubans were also being tried in the case.



Coral Capital partnered with government entities on hotel management and

represented automobile companies in Cuba until it was shuttered in 2011.



Purvis was seen entering a Havana building that houses a special

tribunal Thursday morning, wearing a checkered shirt and escorted by an

apparent state security agent.



He did not speak to reporters. The Cuban government did not comment on

the case or allow media access to the proceedings.



Automobiles with license plates identifying them as belonging to the

British Embassy in Havana suggested that U.K. diplomats were on hand to

observe.



Canadian businessman Sarkis Yacoubian, president of another company,

Tri-Star Caribbean, went on trial last week in the same courthouse on

reported charges of bribery, tax evasion and "activities damaging to the

economy."



No verdict has been issued in Yacoubian's case.



Another Canadian man, Cy Tokmakjian of the Tokmakjian Group, is also

expected to go on trial shortly.



http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/05/30/3424156/britons-on-trial-in-cuba-corruption.html