Canadian Businessman Released From Cuban Prison

TORONTO, Canada CMC – A Canadian businessman who was serving a lengthy prison sentence in Cuba for corruption has been abruptly expelled, bringing to an end an ordeal in which he was first held without charges and then sentenced to nine years in jail.

Sarkis Yacoubian, 53, was reluctant to say much about the circumstances under which he left Cuba’s La Condesa prison less than a year into his sentence.

“I am home, and I just want to be close to my family, and with my mom,” Yacoubian said. “I feel greatly relieved to be back in Canada, and I just want to take my time and think over the whole experience.”

The Toronto Sun reports that, in July 2011, Yacoubian — who operated a Can$30 million transport company called Tri-Star Caribbean, was arrested by Cuban authorities

In April 2013, Yacoubian was formally accused of bribery, tax evasion and “activities damaging to the economy”, the paper said.

In the hope of mitigating his sentence, said Yacoubian decided to cooperate with Cuban authorities, but Cuban authorities still imposed a nine-year prison term.

According to the report in the Toronto Sun, Yacoubian’s return to Toronto also raises questions about the legal status of another Canadian being held by Cuban authorities.

Cy Tokmakjian, 73, remains in La Condesa prison, more than two years after his arrest and with no charges laid.

Tokmakjian, founder of the Tokmakjian Group transportation firm — one of the largest foreign operations in Cuba — was arrested September 2011.

Peter Kent, Tokmakjian’s Member of Parliament, said Yacoubian’s release had been expected, but that the news that he was back in Canada came as a relief.

“My greater concern is about Cy Tokmakjian. Two years without charge, in frail health,” said Kent, adding that Canadian government representatives “have on a number of occasions asked the Cuban authorities to either take him to court, lay charges or release him. And that continues to be our position, and that hasn’t happened.”