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The Provincial People's Court of Holguín imposed an eight-year prison sentence on a citizen for the crime of theft and illegal slaughter of large livestock.
The public hearing took place this week in the First Criminal Chamber of that instance as part of the Third National Exercise for the prevention and confrontation of crime, corruption, drugs, and social indiscipline, the official newspaper ¡Ahora! reported.
According to the information, the trial followed "all the legal and procedural guarantees established in the current legislation in Cuba."
He emphasized that the action "serves a prophylactic and preventive function for individuals with potential criminal tendencies or prone to similar behaviors," which reveals that the goal of the act was not only to punish but also to send an "exemplary" message to the public.
The Cuban Penal Code punishes the illegal sacrifice of livestock severely, along with other related activities such as the acquisition, transportation, marketing, and trafficking of meat obtained outside the legal framework.
The criminalization of these repeated and widespread practices reflects a phenomenon that transcends the individual and points to an economic context in which legal access to meat is increasingly limited.
The publication of the trial in official media does not reveal details of the case, but it does emphasize the "preventive" nature of these actions. Rather than a policy of restorative justice or structural reforms, it resorts to the display of punishment as a mechanism of social control.
Although it is part of a national campaign against crime and illegal activities, these actions do not seem to address the root of the problem. In a country where food shortages are chronic and livestock farming is in crisis, public condemnations do not deter; they only reinforce the narrative of punishment without addressing the underlying needs.
From June 23 to June 28, the Third National Exercise for the Prevention and Confrontation of Crime, Corruption, Drugs, and Social Indiscipline takes place, a large-scale operation under the oversight of the Communist Party, the Ministry of the Interior, and other state structures.
The initiative, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel from the Central Committee of the Communist Party, includes actions for popular vigilance, tax audits, energy inspections, and public trials of cases deemed "significant," in what appears to be an attempt to strengthen state control over the daily lives of Cubans.
The practice of holding "exemplary trials" has historically been used by the regime to send warning messages to the population, especially in contexts of economic crisis and rising discontent.
On the very day of the 23rd, the communist government continued its punitive offensive against the consumption of the drug known as "the chemical" and requested 8 and 9 years of imprisonment in Matanzas for two young individuals accused of its consumption and transportation.
In this regard, the Provincial People's Tribunal of Havana for transporting an air conditioner sent from abroad that contained over one kilogram of liquid cocaine hydrochloride inside.
Also this week, the Municipal Court of Guáimaro, in the province of Camagüey, sentenced two citizens to six years in prison for the theft, illegal slaughter, and trafficking of beef, in a public trial deemed "exemplary" by the authorities.
The Chamber of Crimes Against State Security in the Criminal Division of the Provincial People's Court of Santiago de Cuba to eight years of imprisonment for an offense related to illegal drugs, as stipulated in Article 235.1 of the current Penal Code.
Furthermore, the Provincial People's Tribunal of Guantánamo sentenced three men from the village of La Caridad de los Indios, in the municipality of Manuel Tames, to prison terms of 17, 20, and 25 years for a violent robbery with a firearm against a farmer, from whom they stole more than three million pesos.
In the municipality of Niquero, Granma province, another "exemplary trial" took place for the crime of an attack by a citizen against two law enforcement officers.
Frequently asked questions about convictions for illegal livestock slaughter in Cuba
Why was the citizen in Holguín sentenced to eight years in prison?
The citizen was sentenced to eight years in prison for the crime of theft and illegal slaughter of large livestock. This sentence falls within the Third National Exercise for the prevention and confrontation of crime, corruption, drug trafficking, and social indiscipline in Cuba, where the government employs "exemplary" trials to send a warning message to the population.
What is the current situation regarding illegal livestock slaughter in Cuba?
Despite the Cuban regime's efforts to control the illegal slaughter of livestock, the phenomenon has spread due to the chronic shortage of food and the economic crisis in the country. Many Cubans turn to the black market to obtain meat, as prices in official stores are unaffordable for most of the population.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the illegal slaughter of livestock?
The Cuban government has implemented the Third National Exercise for the prevention and confrontation of crime, which includes actions for popular vigilance, fiscal audits, energy inspections, and public trials for cases deemed "noteworthy." However, these measures focus more on social control than on addressing the structural causes of the food crisis.
What impact do exemplary trials have on the Cuban population?
The exemplary trials, historically used by the Cuban regime, aim to send a warning message to the population. However, these trials do not address the root causes of social problems, such as food shortages and economic difficulties, and focus more on punishment than on restorative justice.
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