Two men were sentenced to eight years of deprivation of liberty each for a violent robbery that occurred in Las Tunas, after they reportedly threatened the owner of a horse-drawn vehicle with a knife and a machete to seize the means of transport.
The case was reported this Wednesday by the Periódico 26 of Las Tunas, based on information released by the First Criminal Chamber of the Provincial People's Court of that province.
According to the publication, the events occurred in the early morning, when the victim was traveling on public roads in an animal-drawn vehicle belonging to them.
The accused allegedly asked him to take them to the community of La Caldosa, in the municipality of Las Tunas. During the journey, according to the official version, they used a knife and a machete to threaten him and take control of the vehicle.
The victim, fearing for her life, jumped from the vehicle, while the two men continued on and drove away with the car, the source indicated.
The case was judged under case 73 of 2026 for the crime of robbery with violence or intimidation against individuals.
During the oral and public hearing, the court verbally communicated the ruling and established as the main sanction eight years in prison for each of the defendants.
It also established a civil liability of 40,000 pesos for the material damages caused to the victim.
As additional penalties, the court imposed the deprivation of public rights, in accordance with Article 42.1 of Law 151 of 2022, Cuban Penal Code, as well as the prohibition from applying for a passport and leaving the national territory while serving the sentence, in accordance with Article 59 of the same regulation.
According to the information released, both the convicted individuals and the victim stated that they agreed with the imposed sanction.
The court also affirmed that throughout the processing of the case and the oral trial, the procedural guarantees and due process established in the Cuban Constitution were respected.
The official publication described the trial as “exemplary”, a term frequently used by Cuban judicial institutions when reporting on criminal proceedings of this nature.
However, the very classification of "exemplary" generated numerous criticisms among users, who deemed the eight years of imprisonment imposed on each defendant insufficient.
Several comments demanded sentences of between 15 and 20 years and questioned how an eight-year punishment could serve as a deterrent against violent crimes.
Some users also pointed out that with potential prison benefits, the convicted could serve less actual time in prison.
Others pointed out that the victim may have lost their life during the assault and considered that this risk should translate into a harsher sentence. “Very little”, “a minimum of 15 years”, and “the sentence should have been 20 years” were some of the reactions.
Criticism also emerged regarding the use of the term “exemplary” itself. Several internet users argued that an eight-year sentence does not fit that description and called for legal modifications or a stricter application of the Penal Code for robberies committed with knives.
Among the reactions, there were also comparisons with the sentences imposed in Cuba for other offenses, including those related to protests and political dissent, while other users demanded a "tough stance" in response to what they perceive as a rise in crime.
Convictions for violent robberies have been a focus of several recent judicial proceedings in Cuba.
In May, the Provincial People's Court of Matanzas for a violent robbery committed in a home in the town of Máximo Gómez, in Perico.
In Mayabeque, a man received 10 years in prison for robbery with violence and intimidation after breaking into a home in Güines and threatening a father and his son with a machete.
During 2026, Cuban authorities also promoted numerous processes classified as “exemplary” for crimes deemed to have social impact, as part of official campaigns for the prevention and confrontation of criminality.
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