"I will never know if at some point he thought about approaching me in a lewd manner. I will never know," summarizes Yoselyn García, a young mechanical engineering student in Havana, about her contact with Martiño Ramos Soto, the former Spanish professor sentenced to 13 years in prison for the sexual abuse of a minor and recently captured in Cuba after being a fugitive.
His testimony has caused a stir both on social media and in Spanish media, which are closely following Ramos's fate, currently in provisional detention on the island while his possible extradition to Spain is being processed.
The story of Yoselyn -18 years old and who agreed to pose for him as a photographic model- adds a disturbing layer to the case of the pedophile from Ourense who was hiding in the Cuban capital under the identity of “Martín Soto.”
The first contact: "This gentleman writes to me on Instagram."
Yoselyn narrated how Ramos initially contacted her through Instagram.
"He tells me that my profile appears in suggestions. I didn’t respond because I hadn’t seen that message," he recalled.
The strategy aligns with what has been learned about the fugitive's actions during their time in Cuba: social media, direct messages, and offers for photo sessions as a means to connect with young Cuban women.
Finally, in response to the lack of reply to his direct message, Ramos commented on the young woman's post asking if she was doing photo shoots.
"I respond that it is a hobby, not a profession. He tells me that he is also an amateur Spanish photographer and asks if I would be willing to do a photo shoot."
However, one of Ramos's initial proposals raised alarm: he wanted her to pose in men's shirts, without any underwear.
“I did not access those photos”, Yoselyn clarified, setting the boundaries from the start.
However, after several exchanges, they agreed on a session.
Photo shoot at the Napoleonic Museum
The meeting took place at the Napoleonic Museum, near the University of Havana.
“I go alone around 10 in the morning. I’m with him until around 12. He was very respectful and kind. I wouldn’t have expected the kind of person I was dealing with,” she stated, emphasizing the contradiction between the man’s friendly demeanor and his status as a fugitive for a heinous crime.
After the session, they went together to an ice cream shop behind the museum.
There, the man confessed to her that he lived nearby, in El Vedado, and that he had a comfortable financial situation that allowed him to stay in Cuba longer.
Later, Martiño Ramos insisted on holding another session, this time with a gothic theme for Halloween, in a more secluded location.
A second unsettling proposal: "I wanted to see me in a place that was like in ruins."
"I wanted to see myself in a place that was in ruins, deteriorated, so that it would give a special touch to the photos," she explained.
The suggested location was Lenin Park, a wooded and virtually abandoned area on the outskirts of Havana.
"No one is going there," she assured, highlighting the potential danger of the location for a private meeting. Although she initially agreed verbally, the young woman never set a date or showed up.
"I thank heaven that nothing happened to me, but it could have happened," he reflected upon learning the true identity and sentence of his interlocutor.
After learning about Ramos's criminal record from a friend, Yoselyn tried to distance herself from his account and deeply regretted having accepted the first meeting.
“This will serve as experience for me when any type of collaboration arises again,” he concluded.
Reactions and other testimonies: "I was one of perhaps many girls."
Yoselyn's testimony triggered a wave of comments on social media, many of which suggest that the Spanish fugitive may have attempted similar approaches with other young Cuban women.
A user commented: “I was perhaps one of many girls he wrote to, and he did harass me greatly to the point of taking photos of me in places I was, on the street, etc.”
Another one stated: "Once, she wrote to me saying that she liked my face, and I never replied because I didn't get a good vibe from her."
A young woman recounted that a friend "wrote to her on Badoo, saying he was very nice and respectful."
The support for Yoselyn was also evident in dozens of comments, as well as the advice that she should never go to such sessions alone.
"Cuban women, do not trust foreigners too much; unfortunately, many see us as easy prey," concluded an internet user.
An ongoing case: The pending extradition
Martiño Ramos Soto was included on November 24 in the list of the ten most wanted fugitives by the National Police of Spain.
His capture in Cuba generated headlines in both countries, and he is currently being held in provisional custody in Havana.
The extradition of Ramos is still pending, and the Spanish government has chosen a diplomatic route with the Cuban authorities to ensure that he serves his sentence in Spain.
Meanwhile, concern is growing about the time he may have spent free on the island and the number of young people he could have interacted with under a false identity.
The testimony of Yoselyn García, although fortunately it did not end in tragedy, serves as a warning and evidence of the real risks that many young women face on social media.
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