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The lack of clear information from Cuban authorities regarding the multiple hit-and-run incident that occurred in Havana on August 25 has led to a surge of speculation and inaccurate reports, resulting in a series of public denials.
From regime spokespersons to one of the private businesses of Bartolomeo, “Berto”, Savina Tito on the island, and even his own son, have come forward to deny that the Italian businessman has any connection to the incident that resulted in the death of one woman and left eight others injured, which was reported on Wednesday by the independent outlet 14ymedio.
The latest to respond has been the currency store Casalinda, one of the businesses of this Italian entrepreneur in Havana, where they published an official note emphasizing that "there is no evidence linking him to these events" and highlighted that the entrepreneur "continues to perform his usual duties in Italy."
The company labeled the publications linking it to the accident as an attempt to harm the reputation of its supplier, with more than thirty years of business in Cuba, many of them in partnership with the military conglomerate GAESA.
The first to issue a denial was the official spokesperson Humberto López, who stated on social media that Savina, also the owner of the firm Italsav, “has no connection whatsoever” to the incident and has been outside of Cuba since August 18.
López added that the businessman “has a long-standing relationship and demonstrated prestige” with the country, although he refrained from clarifying who the detained driver actually was.
A few hours later, Gianluca Savina, the businessman’s son, confirmed on Facebook that his father had returned to that country on August 19, six days before the accident. He described the information as “completely false” and announced that they would undertake legal action for defamation.
"The person who caused the incident that occurred in Havana on August 25 is not Berto Savina," he wrote, noting that the Embassy of Italy in Cuba has already been notified.
Meanwhile, the official investigation continues to be surrounded by secrecy. The Ministry of the Interior has only reported that the perpetrator was a "foreign citizen", without disclosing his name or nationality.
This opacity, combined with Savina's documented connections to the Cuban elite—photographs show him alongside Fidel Castro, Esteban Lazo, and Miguel Díaz-Canel—has raised suspicions of potential cover-up.
The victim of the incident, Mairovis Valier Heredia, 34 years old, died on the spot. Her family has reported on social media the silence of the authorities and demands justice.
"I neither sleep nor live. I ask for the maximum penalty for that man who took my daughter's life," her mother declared, in a plea that contrasts with the avalanche of official and private denials that do not clarify who was truly responsible for the fatal incident.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Multiple Collision in Havana
Is Berto Savina involved in the multiple hit-and-run accident in Havana?
Berto Savina is not involved in the multiple hit-and-run incident that occurred in Havana on August 25. Both his son and the official spokesperson Humberto López have denied his involvement, asserting that the businessman was outside of Cuba prior to the incident.
What do the Cuban authorities say about the driver in the hit-and-run incident in Havana?
The Ministry of the Interior of Cuba has reported that the person responsible for the accident, which resulted in one woman dead and eight others injured, is a "foreign national," but has not disclosed their name or nationality, raising suspicions of a possible cover-up.
Why is there suspicion of a cover-up in the case of the hit-and-run in Havana?
The lack of clear information and the opacity in the official investigation have led to suspicions of a cover-up in the case of the hit-and-run in Havana. Additionally, the documented links of Berto Savina with the Cuban elite have fueled these theories.
How has the family of the victim from the multiple hit-and-run incident in Havana reacted?
The family of Mairovis Valier Heredia, the woman who died in the accident, has denounced the silence of the authorities and demands justice and the maximum penalty for the responsible party. They have expressed their frustration over the lack of information and official support.
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