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The Cuban regime revealed this Thursday the identity of the Italian citizen charged with the multiple hit-and-run that occurred on August 25 in Havana, resulting in the death of a woman and leaving eight others injured.
The accused has been identified as Mario Pontolillo, 56 years old and a permanent resident of Cuba, who is currently under provisional imprisonment and a travel ban, as specified in the official statement from the Attorney General's Office.
The report states that Pontolillo is under investigation for a “deliberate hitting of individuals with the car he was driving on the public roads of the Centro Habana and Habana Vieja municipalities,” an action deemed serious for threatening public safety.
The Prosecutor's Office states that "instruction proceedings are being conducted for the provision of evidence and the completion of investigations" and that it will exercise public criminal action before the Court, requesting penalties commensurate with the severity of the facts.
This official statement comes after more than a week of government silence and speculation, following the publication of an investigation by the independent media 14ymedio, which pointed to Berto Savina, an Italian businessman with strong ties to the Cuban regime, as the perpetrator of the crime.
The complaint was publicly rejected by Savina's son, Gianluca Savina, who asserted that his father had been in Italy since August 19, six days before the incident. The official spokesperson Humberto López also denied any involvement, which many perceived as a maneuver by the regime to protect the powerful businessman.
For days, the Cuban regime avoided revealing the identity of the detainee, which fueled the perception of a cover-up, especially due to the connection between Savina and powerful figures such as Fidel Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel, documented in photographs and reports.
The incident, which occurred in the early morning of August 25, resulted in the death of Mairovis Valier Heredia, a 34-year-old woman and mother of three. Her family has publicly denounced the authorities' lack of transparency and demanded justice.
Testimonials collected by 14ymedio spoke of a violent incident, allegedly intentional, and indicated that the perpetrator had a troubled history in Cuba. However, the name of Mario Pontolillo had not been mentioned until today, which reconfigures the case and, for many, alleviates —though not entirely— the suspicions of institutional protection; but for the more skeptical, it raises those concerns.
The statement from the Prosecutor's Office concludes by assuring that it will act "in accordance with the law and in defense of our people," but it has not yet provided details about the court hearing or the exact procedural status of the accused.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Multiple Hit-and-Run in Havana
Who is the accused in the multiple hit-and-run incident in Havana?
The accused of the multiple hit-and-run incident in Havana is Mario Pontolillo, a 56-year-old Italian citizen with permanent residency in Cuba. The Prosecutor's Office has revealed his identity after days of speculation and has placed him in provisional detention due to the serious incident that resulted in one death and left eight injured.
What has been the reaction of the victim's family to the hit-and-run in Havana?
The family of Mairovis Valier Heredia, the woman who passed away in the accident, has publicly denounced the silence of the authorities and demands justice for the loss of their loved one. Mairovis's mother and sister have expressed their grief and dissatisfaction with the lack of support and information from the Cuban government.
What is said about the businessman Berto Savina in relation to the multiple hit-and-run incident?
Initially, the Italian businessman Berto Savina was identified by an independent media outlet as the perpetrator of the multiple hit-and-run. However, both his son and the official spokesperson Humberto López denied any implication of Savina, stating that he was in Italy before the incident. These statements have been perceived by many as an attempt by the Cuban regime to protect Savina, given his connections with influential figures in Cuba.
How has the Cuban government reacted after the multiple hit-and-run incident in Havana?
The Cuban government was slow to reveal the identity of the accused, which has created a perception of cover-up among the population. The lack of clear information and the prolonged official silence have fueled suspicions of a possible attempt to protect interests tied to individuals close to the regime. So far, the authorities claim they are investigating the facts and will act according to the law.
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