ID:102674
Date:2007-03-30 16:23:00
07HAVANA317

VZCZCXRO0628
RR RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL
RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHUB #0317 0891623
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 301623Z MAR 07
FM USINT HAVANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1530
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RUESDM/JTLO MIAMI FL
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HAVANA 000317 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2017 
TAGS: PGOV, CU 
SUBJECT: CUBAN REGIME REMOVES JUSTICE MINISTER 
 
Classified By: COM Michael E. Parmly; Reasons 1.4 (b/d) 
 
1. (U) Cuban official media announced March 24 that Justice 
Minister Roberto Diaz Sotolongo would be replaced by Vice 
Minister Maria Esther Reus.  Additionally, Water Resources 
Institute Director Jorge Luis Aspiolea would be replaced by 
his deputy, Rene Mesa. 
 
2. (U) Although the regime's public announcement gave no 
reasons, an independent journalist posted a story claiming 
that Sotolongo was involved in corruption regarding fees for 
illegal internet accounts, and that one of his subordinates 
was caught over a year ago trying to leave the Cuba illegally 
with 25 thousand dollars.  This same story reports that Maria 
Esther Reus has a background dealing with corruption cases 
and is a confidant of Raul Castro.  Former GOC official Jesus 
Marzo Fernandez, on the March 29 Miami-based TV show "Polos 
Opuestos," said that Sotolongo was up to his ears in 
corruption. 
 
3. (C) USINT's American Citizens Services Officer learned 
from an American Citizen XXXXXXXXXXXX that Sotolongo and 
Aspiolea have been in the Villa Marista Detention Center in 
Havana since February.  According to this source, Sotolongo's 
detention/removal is related to his involvement in migrant 
smuggling. 
 
4. (C) Comment:  Cuba's justice system is characterized by 
corruption and subservience to political dictates.  That 
someone would be removed for corruption is usually an 
indication that the individual's misdeeds were not fully 
coordinated in advance, and the profits not shared enough 
with the Castros.  The regime is, in public, "shocked" that 
corruption might be going on in its midst. 

PARMLY