Miami Herald
Nov. 8, 1968
By Margaret Carroll
Herald Staff Writer
A former intelligence agent, who kept tabs on Dr. Orlando Bosch for the FBI testified Thursday that the Cuban exile leader’s anti-Castro actions in Miami amounted to a “phony scheme.”
The statements by Ricardo Morales Navarette came in the second day of a federal court trial for Bosch and eight companions who are accused of plotting to fire on a Polish ship that was docked at Dodge Island in September.
Morales told the jury that Bosch, identified by the prosecution as Cuban Power leader “Ernesto” does “not represent the true feelings of the Cuban people” in Miami. He said Bosch’s activities only helped the Communist cause.
In recent months, press releases have been issued by the mysterious Ernesto giving the Cuban Power movement credit for a series of explosions on vessels from countries that trade with Fidel Castro.
Bosch has said that he was not involved in Cuban Power operations and is merely its spokesman.
However, Bosch and two of his co-defendants are accused of firing at the Soviet block freighter. And Bosch, a baby doctor, is also charged with sending threatening cables to Mexican, Spanish, and British leaders warning them to cut their shipping routes to Cuba.
Morales told Judge William Mehrtens’ court that he gave up his job as a $500-a-month salesman to do “full time undercover work” in an FBI probe of Bosch – a job that lasted about six months and earned him about $1,400.
One of the reasons for turning informant, he said, was because Bosch was taking ill-deserved credit for sabotage in Cuba. He said Bosch also was trying to hide the fact that there is a true revolutionary movement in Cuba.
Morales who left Cuba in the early 1960s “with a price on my head,” said Bosch wanted TNT for forays on ships. He said he delivered some phony dynamite provided for the FBI. He also said he provided a rebreather – a device sometimes used by divers for underwater demolition.
Morales said Bosch continually complained because dynamite bombs were flops.
The witness said he eventually had to run a test on the dynamite for Bosch, and later when he was called to a meeting he said he was “concerned about a kangaroo court.”
But it turned out that Bosch wanted him to repair a 57 mm recoilless rifle, which the government says was used against the Polish freighter Sept 16.
Morales said that Bosch was catnapping in the back seat of a car near the Mac Arthur Causeway the night the ship was hit.
At the sound of the shot, Morales said, Bosch woke up laughing and said “that’s all I need.”
Earlier Tuesday, Defense attorney Melvyn Greenspahn tried to suppress Morales’ testimony because he had used a hidden tape recorder during conversations with Beach. He said it violated his client’s rights against self-incrimination. Mehrtens denied the motion.
Later, during cross-examination, Greenspahn asked Morales if he didn’t have the nickname “Chivato” – the Spanish equivalent of Stoolie. Morales said no.
There was a burst of laughter from the audience.