María Victoria Gil, sister of the former Cuban Minister of Economy Alejandro Gil Fernández, stated in an interview with CiberCuba that the corruption conviction against the former regime official is based on events from the 1990s which, according to her version, have no connection to the position he held for years as head of the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
“All my brother's corruption comes down to 4,000 CUC”, Gil stated as he referred to the accusations that, as he explained, prompted one of the criminal cases against the former leader.
Vicky Gil, a lawyer by profession, stated that she has had access to information regarding the judicial process and that she even possesses documents related to the prosecution's charges, although she noted that she cannot disclose them publicly.
"I have in my hands the conclusions of the prosecutor who was in charge of my brother's case," he said.
However, he indicated that he cannot read or publish the document because the person who provided it to him—whom he described as “a very important judge in our country”—has not authorized him to do so.
Regarding the prosecutor, he said that he is an official with a long career in the Cuban judicial system, who is now.
During the interview, María Victoria Gil questioned the severity of the accusation made by the Prosecutor's Office in the corruption case.
"It is incredible that a prosecutor is able to ask for thirty years of imprisonment for a human being for administrative violations that are time-barred," he stated.
According to his account, the case dates back to when Alejandro Gil was the manager of a company called Caudal in the 1990s. During that period, he claimed to have received royalties totaling 4,000 CUC.
"My brother has committed no crime. My brother is not corrupt," he insisted.
The sister of the now former minister explained that that money would have been given to a cousin to be exchanged from CUC to dollars, and she emphasized that the events, if they occurred, would be beyond the statute of limitations.
“All my brother's corruption amounts to 4,000 CUC... Things from the nineties, also prescribed over time,” he stated.
He also stated that this episode “has nothing to do with the Ministry of Economy and Planning”, an institution that Alejandro Gil led for several years before falling from grace within the power structure.
Family under pressure
The former minister's sister also claimed that her nephews live in fear following their father's downfall.
"My nephews are filled with fear, with panic, threatened. They don't write to me; they only send me hearts and kisses, but they don't send me any information," she stated.
According to what he reported, he has been able to learn details of the process thanks to old acquaintances and contacts within Cuba.
"I was a lawyer in Cuba and I have informants, I have people who care about me and who have had the courage to send me very important things," she declared.
"He should be considered a political prisoner."
María Victoria Gil also stated that, following the life sentence for espionage, her brother should be considered a political prisoner.
Nonetheless, he stated that in the event of a transition in Cuba, the former minister would also have to answer for his role within the system.
According to his words, "he will be judged during the transition for being part of the system," although he expressed his hope that in that scenario he can receive a fair trial.
The woman also hinted that her brother's fall from grace would be linked to sensitive information related to the military conglomerate GAESA.
“He discovered things about GAESA and they assigned Marrero the task of finishing him off”, he stated.
The sentences against Alejandro Gil
María Victoria Gil's statements come weeks after the Supreme People's Court (TSP) of Cuba confirmed harsh sentences against the former minister.
Gil Fernández was tried in two separate criminal proceedings and was found guilty of offenses deemed "extremely serious."
In one of them, he received a life sentence after being found guilty of espionage, bribery, acts against economic activity, theft of official documents, and offenses related to the handling of classified information.
In a second criminal case—which is the one María Victoria is referring to—he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for continued bribery, forgery of public documents, influence peddling, and tax evasion.
Additionally, the court ordered the confiscation of assets and the prohibition of undertaking roles related to the management of human, material, or financial resources, among other supplementary sanctions.
According to the official statement from the Supreme Popular Court, the former minister allegedly took advantage of his responsibilities to gain personal benefits, receive money from foreign companies, and manipulate classified information, actions that the Cuban authorities deemed a serious betrayal of the State.
Alejandro Gil Fernández had been one of the most prominent figures in Miguel Díaz-Canel's cabinet until his abrupt dismissal in early 2024, an episode that led to one of the most high-profile judicial processes in recent Cuban history.
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