HAVANA: The Cuban government is going to egg-cruciating lengths to crack down on corruption. A Cuban court has found 18 public sector employees guilty of charges stemming from the misappropriation of over 8 million eggs.
Prosecutors argued the egg smugglers inflicted close to US$356 million in damages to a state owned poultry company in 2012, according to Cuba’s Granma newspaper. The court heard allegations corrupt workers used shadowy delivery routes to divert egg deliveries to the black market, where unscrupulous customers shelled out for yolked-up prices. Prosecutors accused hard-boiled officials of covering their shady eggs-capades with falsified receipts, and manipulating account books.
While one of the suspects was acquitted, the rest will spend between five and 15 years cooped up behind bars. Charges included falsification of documents, and theft. Although the sentences were below the 20 year sentences sought by prosecutors, the case is being hailed as yet another eggs-ample of a victory in the government’s anti-corruption efforts. Authorities on the island nation have vowed to take a zero-tolerance approach to corruption. In February, fourteen people including former high ranking government officials were hit with sentences between six and 20 years under various corruption charges. Those found guilty included the former head of a state-owned nickel company, and a former second in command at the sugar ministry.
