HAVANA - A Cuban lawcourt convicted a punk rocker known for his raunchy lyrics against Fidel Castro of public disorder Friday, but freed him after dismissing a more serious "social dangerousness" charge that could have brought four years behind bars.
Following a two-hour trial, the courtyard ordered Gorki Aguila to pay 600 pesos (US$28) and sworn to release the 39-year-old singer, wHO defiantly screamed "Freedom!" as he was being light-emitting diode into the courtroom.
The fine is openhanded money in a country where virtually everyone, Aguila included, full treatment for the state and takes home an medium of 408 pesos (US$19.50) per month.
But Aguila would have faced far more severe penalization had he been convicted of "social dangerousness," which the government defines as violating "communist morality." That charge is often secondhand to detain would-be offenders before they have a chance to commit a crime.
Elizardo Sanchez, head of the independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation took the unusual stair of attending the trial - which was open to Aguila's father and band couple as good as around 10 of his supporters, but shut to reporters.
"The prosecution asked for a fine," aforementioned Sanchez, whose group is not recognised but largely tolerated by Cuba's commie government. "Fortunately, there will be no more time in prison."
Aguila was arrested Monday as his band, Porno para Ricardo, rehearsed at the modest Havana apartment he shares with his father. The case sparked international outcry simply caused small stir on the island, where the band has only a small simply devoted following.
Aguila was previously arrested in 2005 on drug charges that he says were fabricated because authorities objected to his music.
Founded 10 years agone, the band - whose name means "Porno for Ricardo" - is known for ridiculing the communist system, especially Castro, 82 and poorly, and his younger brother Raul, world Health Organization became president in February. Its songs at one time were broadcast on state wireless and TV, but the group was later banned and has resorted to small, episodic concerts in underground venues.
With long and wild curly black hair and healthy stubble, Aguila grinned and waved to supporters as officers laden him in a law cruiser following the opinion. He was taken to a municipal office to pay his fine and be processed for release.
Sanchez said Friday before the trial that the "dangerousness" charge normally results in jail time for people who stimulate not attached any crime.
"Because of 'social dangerousness,' thousands and thousands of Cubans ar in prison house," he said.
Band Guitarist Ciro Diaz aforementioned authorities told Aguila's state-assigned lawyer he was arrested for beingness "an anti-social."
"His lawyer aforementioned he talked to the prosecutors, and that a judge told them this was a political trial," Diaz said outside the courthouse. "That this was about an undesirable in the neighbourhood who made songs with lyrics against the system, against Fidel and everything else."
Diaz aforesaid he and a supporter were roughed up and arrested by state agents the old night after they held up a handwritten signal reading "Gorki" at an open-air concert by fabled Cuban isaac Bashevis Singer Pablo Milanes. He said they were treated for minor injuries and then interrogated for hours earlier being released without charge.
Gathered outside the courthouse earlier Friday's trial run were human rights observers from the Canadian and Dutch embassies, as good as an official from the U.S. Interests Section. Blogger Yoani Sanchez - who has won international acclaim for her criticism of the government - was given access to the test, which she called "an inquisition."
"It's a message to all those who have not up to now dared to criticize things but were thinking about it," she said.
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