Company of Canadian facing Cuba charges says legitimate transactions wrongly treated as graft

The company and family of a Canadian business executive awaiting a court ruling in Cuba are defending him against accusations of graft.

A statement provided by the Ontario-based Tokmakjian Group argues that "legitimate commercial transactions" were wrongly characterized as corrupt at the trial of company president Cy Tokmakjian.

It says he was held without charge for two years while the results of the investigation were kept secret, and then given just two months to present a defense.

It complains that 14 of 18 international tax experts proposed as witnesses for the defense were rejected by the court without explanation.

Prosecutors are seeking 15 years for Tokmakjian. The trial ended June 21, and a ruling is expected soon.