DATE=2/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CUBA SPY - BAIL (S & L)
NUMBER=2-259533
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Miami, an alleged Cuban spy arrested last
week has been denied bail while facing charges of
espionage. V-O-A's Michael Bowman has details
TEXT: Miami Federal Magistrate Judge Barry Garber has
denied bail for former U-S Immigration supervisor
Mariano Faget [fah-`het], saying there is a risk he
might flee if released from jail. Mr. Faget was
arrested after an F-B-I sting operation caught him
allegedly passing secrets to a New York businessman
with ties to the Cuban Government.
In court, the Cuba-born Mr. Faget expressed a desire
to clear his name, stating he has never sympathized
with communism.
The case has further strained the thorny relations
between Washington and Havana. Saturday, the State
Department gave a Cuban diplomat seven days to vacate
the Cuban Interests Section in Washington. But Cuba
has ordered the diplomat to remain in the United
States and challenge accusations of espionage.
/// REST OPT FOR LONG ///
Two weeks ago F-B-I agents told Mr. Faget a high-
ranking Cuban official wanted to defect. Shortly
thereafter, says the F-B-I, he passed this information
on to the New York businessman.
Mr. Faget has worked for the U-S Immigration and
Naturalization Service for more than 30 years, and was
weeks away from possible retirement when arrested.
This is not the first case of alleged Cuban espionage
in South Florida. Two convicted spies were sentenced
Thursday to seven years in prison. Linda and Nilo
Hernandez were part of a ten-member Cuban spy ring
that operated in the Miami area, infiltrating Cuban
exile organizations and U-S military installations.
They were arrested in late 1998. (Signed)
NEB/MCB/ENE/gm/latam
24-Feb-2000 16:30 PM EDT (24-Feb-2000 2130 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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