Editorial Note: This article was initially published following an investigation by 14ymedio which identified the Italian businessman Berto Savina as a suspect in the multiple hit-and-run incident in Havana. However, the Attorney General's Office of the Republic of Cuba has officially identified Mario Pontolillo as the responsible party and has denied any involvement of Savina in the case. CiberCuba updates and corrects the information to reflect the official version and avoid confusion.

Prosecutor rules out Berto Savina in multiple hit-and-run case in Havana

The Attorney General of the Republic confirmed this Thursday that the Italian businessman Berto Savina is not a suspect nor is he linked to the multiple hit-and-run incident that occurred on August 25 in Havana, which resulted in one woman dead and eight injured.

The person responsible, according to the official statement, is Mario Pontolillo, a 56-year-old Italian citizen residing in Cuba, currently in provisional detention and prohibited from leaving the country.

The Prosecutor's Office specified that Pontolillo is being investigated for a “deliberate act of running over individuals with the car he was driving on the public roads of Centro Habana and Habana Vieja,” and assured that it will continue the investigative procedures to present evidence and pursue legal action before the court.

An initially incorrect indication

Days before the official statement, the independent media 14ymedio had published that businessman Berto Savina was the suspect in the hit-and-run. Photos of him alongside Cuban leaders such as Fidel Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel fueled those speculations, leading to extensive debate on social media.

However, both his son, Gianluca Savina, and government spokesman Humberto López denied that implication and stated that the businessman had been in Italy since August 19, several days before the incident.

The clarification from the Prosecutor's Office now confirms that Savina is not related to the incident, attributed to Pontolillo, and dispels the rumors circulating in media and digital communities.

Victim and demands for justice

The accident resulted in the death of Mairovis Valier Heredia, 34 years old, a mother of three, who had arrived in Havana just a few days earlier from Guantánamo. Her family has publicly denounced the official silence and demanded the “maximum penalty” for the one responsible.

The case has sparked public outrage due to the authorities' secrecy and the delay in revealing the identity of the accused, which has fueled perceptions of a cover-up involving individuals close to power. With the prosecutor's statement, those suspicions are partially alleviated, although skepticism remains among many Cubans.

The judicial process against Mario Pontolillo remains open, and the authorities have promised to act "in accordance with the law." Meanwhile, the victim's family continues to demand justice and support following the irreparable loss.

Frequently Asked Questions about the multiple hit-and-run incident in Havana