Judge Overseeing Trial of Cuban Masonic Leaders Previously Sentenced Anna Bensi

Zamira Marrero Morgado, who leads the Municipal People's Court of Havana del Este, has been appointed to preside over the trial of four prominent Masonic leaders in Cuba. These leaders face allegations of "illegal currency trafficking" for exchanging $300 meant for charitable activities, according to independent journalist Camila Acosta's report on Facebook.

Earlier this October, the same judge handed down a two-year sentence of restricted freedom to content creator Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, also known as Anna Bensi, and her mother. The charges stemmed from recording and sharing on social media the visit of a MININT agent to their home.

Judge's Controversial History

Marrero Morgado's record extends beyond this recent case. Both Cubalex and Justicia 11J identified her involvement in the December 2021 trials of 17 La Güinera protesters from the 11J demonstrations, where some received sentences of up to 30 years.

The Accused Masonic Leaders

The four Masons facing trial include José Ramón Viñas Alonso, former Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree; Fernando Marcos García, accountant at the Llansó National Masonic Asylum; Ángel Santiesteban Prats, current Sovereign Grand Commander; and Osvaldo Ernesto Villegas Digat.

The prosecution is seeking four years of restricted freedom and a 25,000 Cuban peso fine for Viñas Alonso; three years and a 20,000 peso fine for Marcos García; and two years with the same fine for Santiesteban Prats and Villegas Digat.

Details of the Allegations

CubaNet accessed the prosecution's preliminary conclusions, revealing that Viñas Alonso authorized two currency exchanges with dollars donated to the Llansó National Masonic Asylum. On September 14, 2023, Santiesteban Prats exchanged 49,600 Cuban pesos for $200 from the institution. On June 13, 2025, Villegas Digat swapped 37,500 pesos for another $100 from the asylum. The prosecution claims these transactions were conducted at the informal market rate.

Defense's Standpoint

Led by attorney Roberto Ortega Ortiz, the defense seeks acquittal for all accused, arguing that the exchanges occurred within the institution and were not criminal. According to the defense, the first exchange was used to purchase powdered milk for the asylum's elderly residents. The second involved Villegas Digat using personal funds to buy $100 for his son's medication, while the institution received pesos for emergencies.

Acosta, a Havana correspondent for the Spanish newspaper ABC and author of "Del templo al temple. Silencios y escándalos de la masonería cubana," is also romantically involved with Santiesteban Prats, giving her direct insight and personal connection to the case.

Broader Crackdown on Freemasonry

This trial is part of a broader systematic crackdown by the regime against independent Freemasonry, which has intensified since 2024. Actions have included suspending bank accounts of the Grand Lodge and Supreme Council, attempts to impose regime-friendly leaders, and a ministerial resolution that dismissed Viñas Alonso as the authority. In August 2026, over a hundred Masons gathered at the Scottish Cathedral in Havana to protest state intervention.

Santiesteban Prats was elected Sovereign Grand Commander on September 26, 2026, just weeks before the prosecution formalized its charges.

Acosta expressed concerns about the appointment of this judge, highlighting the lack of transparency and impartiality in Cuban courts. This sentiment is echoed by human rights organizations, given the judge's documented involvement in politically charged cases.