HAVANA, Cuba. – Between January and August 2024, at least 2 million 116,555 pesos and 33 cents were illegally stolen from the Grand Lodge of Cuba, an amount equivalent to 17,637.96 dollars (at a rate of 1 x 120, the official exchange rate in Cuba). According to the “Special Circular No. 127” transmitted to the lodges of the Island on September 6 and signed by the current Grand Master of the institution, Mayker Filema Duarte, the amount was stolen by the former Grand Treasurer Airam Cerveza Reigosa, with the alleged complicity of the former Grand Master Mario Alberto Urquia Carreno.
In the official document, to which he had access CubaNetFilema Duarte claims that he carried out a financial audit after learning that Airam Cervera had made transactions to his personal account as a self-employed worker from the current accounts of the Grand Lodge of Cuba. After detecting the infraction, the Grand Master not only began the investigation but also ordered the suspension of the Grand Treasurer’s Masonic rights and, therefore, his referral to be prosecuted by the Supreme Court of Masonic Justice.
The investigation revealed that, during the period in question, Cervera Reigosa made seven bank transfers from the Grand Lodge account: three of them (for a total value of 2,029,110.33 CUP) to his personal account, and four to three other individuals (for a value of 87,445 CUP) without specifying the reason.
In the “Special Circular No. 127”, it is stated that the Grand Treasurer “digitally manipulated the official bank statements” of the Masonic institution, deleting some transactions from them, which he then printed and gave to the accountant Gertrudis Mena “so that she could make the relevant records; that is to say: he falsified the bank statements, to cover up the embezzlement he was committing.”
Likewise, the document indicates that “it has been duly proven” by the Commission that former Grand Master Mario Urquía was an accomplice to the crime. Cervera Reigosa and Urquía Carreño proceeded to falsify at least one payment invoice, as well as “directed the accountant Gertrudis Mena to record the loss as a result of the crime.” the theft of 2,700 USD.
The statement also details that, although the audit has not finished its investigation, it learned of the intentions of Airam Cervera Reigosa and Mario Urquía Carreño to travel abroad, so, “to prevent them from leaving the country with the Treasury money and recover it for our institution,” the entity decided to file a formal accusation of fraud before the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) with registration number 62971/24.
Airam Cervera was appointed Grand Treasurer by Mario Urquía shortly after the latter assumed the Grand Mastery, in March 2023. He was one of the few senior officials of the Grand Lodge who continued to support Urquía after the rejection generated by the alleged theft of $19,000 from his office, which occurred in January of this year, and after his subsequent expulsion from the Order.
Tensions among the Masons, both over theft and interference by State Security, led to a massive and unprecedented protest in front of the Grand Master’s office and in Urquía’s resignation in the middle of August.
The embezzlement at the Grand Lodge of Cuba already amounts to more than 40,000 dollars, according to the official exchange rate used by institutions with legal personality (1 x 120).
