Cuba enforces the law: Revokes parole for José Daniel Ferrer and Felix Navarro due to repeated violations

As reported, between January and March, early release benefits were granted to 553 individuals sanctioned for various offenses. These benefits were awarded in accordance with the requirements set forth by law and the characteristics of each of the sanctioned individuals.

This process proceeded normally, as cases of early release occur permanently and systematically in the country. According to Article 146.1 of the current Criminal Execution Law in Cuba, parole involves a probationary period equal to the remaining term of the sanction yet to be served.

When the Court grants the benefit, it summons the sanctioned individual before the execution judge in their place of residence. In this initial appearance, they are informed about their legal situation, their rights, their obligations, as well as the restrictions to which they will be subjected during the time of control over their person.

They are also explained the tasks or activities they must fulfill in the labor or educational field, which can even be proposed by the sanctioned individual and approved by the Court in accordance with the law. They are warned about the consequences of violations and the control and monitoring actions to which they will be subjected, as well as the criminal liability they may incur if they fail to comply with the accessory sanctions imposed by the court.

Once the appearance is made, the execution judge, representatives of the Revolutionary National Police, the director of labor and social security, the social worker coordinating the social prevention activity in the Popular Council of the sanctioned individual’s residence, and the present organs, organisms, organizations, and entities establish the strategy for personalized and systematic control that is deemed appropriate.

As can be seen, Cuban law and its regulations are clear, direct, and transparent in regulating these benefits, their control, attention, influence, and revocation in case of non-compliance with what is stipulated. In line with what is regulated, the criminal chambers of the provincial people’s courts of Matanzas and Santiago de Cuba revoked the parole of two sanctioned individuals from the group of 553 who violated the provisions of the law during the probationary period to which they were subjected.

Félix Navarro Rodríguez was serving a 9-year sentence imposed in case 28 of 2021 by the People’s Municipal Court of Perico, Matanzas, for the offenses of public disorder, contempt, and assault. He is a multi-recidivist citizen, but considering his age, 72 years, the law empowers the Court to grant him the benefit, regardless of the time served of his sanction.

On January 18, when the benefit of parole was granted, he had 5 years and two months left to serve. This citizen was summoned for the initial appearance on January 29, 2025, where he was informed of his legal situation, rights, obligations, guarantees, and the prohibition of leaving the municipality where he resides without the authorization of the court.

However, in blatant disregard for the law, he left his municipality on 7 occasions without requesting permission from the execution judge of the People’s Municipal Court of Perico. This repeated act violates Article 135 of the Regulation of the Criminal Execution Law, which establishes that the execution judge is the one who grants permission for the controlled person to travel to another territory.

The Third Chamber of the Provincial People’s Court of Matanzas ordered the revocation of the benefit on April 28 and ordered the re-entry of the sanctioned Félix Navarro Rodríguez to a penitentiary establishment to serve the remainder of the sanction.

In the case of the second revocation, this was issued by the Third Chamber of the Provincial People’s Court of Santiago de Cuba, concerning the citizen José Daniel Ferrer García. He had been granted the benefit of parole on January 16 of this year 2025.

He was serving a 4-year and 6-month sentence imposed in case 12 of 2020 for the crime of illegal deprivation of liberty (as he restricted a person’s freedom for several hours) and for the crime of bodily harm. The sanction imposed by the judicial body in 2020 did not require internment in a penitentiary establishment, but rather compliance with the rules dictated by the Law and the Court.

The repeated violation of those obligations led to the revocation of the sanction he was serving in his family and social environment, resulting in his admission to a penitentiary establishment for the remainder of the sanction. On January 16 of this year 2025, he was granted the benefit of early release.

The resolution established that he had to appear before the execution judge of the municipality where he resides on January 28 (People’s Municipal Court of Santiago de Cuba), which he did not attend. He was again summoned for February 7, which he also did not attend.

Not only did he not appear, but he also announced through his social media profile, in blatant defiance and non-compliance with the law, that he would not appear before the judicial authority. Both summonses were intended to carry out the initial appearance, which, as I have already explained, is an indispensable requirement once the early release is granted.

The Regulation of the Law in Article 162.1 provides that if the person who received early release benefits does not appear before the execution judge, the sanctioned individual is required to explain the reasons for their non-appearance; and, if unjustified, the judicial body proceeds to revoke it so that they serve the time, or the remainder of, the initially imposed temporary deprivation of liberty.

The revocations carried out by the provincial courts of Matanzas and Santiago de Cuba have their legal basis in Articles 149 of Law No. 152 of 2022, on criminal execution, which establishes that the court can revoke parole and order the completion of the sanction that remains to be served if the sanctioned individual violates any of the established obligations during the probationary period or is sentenced to deprivation of liberty for a new crime, and 167 of the Regulation of the Criminal Execution Law, which provides for its procedure.

Although it is not part of this process, the mentioned sanctioned individuals, in addition to failing to comply with what has already been explained, are individuals who publicly call for disorder, contempt for the authorities, and maintain public links with the chargé d’affaires of the United States Embassy in Cuba.

The revocations issued at this time do not have a direct relationship with these behaviors. It will be up to the competent authorities to investigate and promote the corresponding investigative processes in this regard, if they deem it necessary.

People’s Supreme Court April 29, 2025.