A relative of David Enrique Perdomo Álvarez, an employee of the Electric Company of Santiago de Cuba who lost his right hand due to an attack with a bladed weapon, publicly denounced the bureaucratic hurdles this man faces in order to collect the 113,458.96 Cuban pesos that have been judicially recognized as compensation.
The report was published this Friday by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada through his Facebook profile, noting that the relative of the affected party requested to keep their identity confidential.
The origin of it all dates back to the attack suffered by David Enrique in January 2024, when members of the gang known as Banda 59 assaulted him with bladed weapons in the Abel Santamaría neighborhood, commonly referred to as El Sala'o, in Santiago de Cuba.
More than five young men attacked him around 5:40 in the morning, stole his wallet, and caused the amputation of his right hand, as well as injuries to his collarbone.
After the judicial process, Case No. 108 of 2025 from the Provincial People's Court of Santiago included five defendants for whom sentences of between 11 and 22 years of imprisonment were requested for various offenses related to the assault.
More than two years after the attack, the family member reported that David Enrique went to the Court, obtained the necessary documentation, and appeared before the Compensation Fund of the Ministry of Justice.
There, they handed him a new document and informed him that he should get in touch in three months to inquire about the payment options.
The presentation record, dated September 28, 2026, recognizes 113,458.96 Cuban pesos as compensation, although subject to a 10% reduction according to Article 24.1 of Decree Law 86/24 of the Compensation Fund.
The document also warns that if the transfer is not claimed within 180 days, the right will be lost and the amount will go to the funds of the Caja, according to Article 27 of the same decree-law.
The core issue of the problem lies in Article 6 of Decree Law 1258.51, which states that "the amounts for civil liability may be collected by the victim when the sanctioned party fulfills, either partially or fully, the payment of the incurred debt."
In practice, this means that David Enrique cannot collect his compensation until his assailants pay, which entirely depends on the willingness or financial capacity of the convicted individuals.
Meanwhile, David Enrique continues to work at the Electric Company as an electrical technician in the UEB Redes Santiago, fulfilling shifts and night duties despite the permanent physical limitation of having lost his right hand, the source specified.
When asked how David Enrique’s life has been since the attack, a family member shared the victim’s own words: “Terrible. At first, everyone reaches out and cares, but as time goes by, the only one who remembers that I had a hand is me.”
The open question is how much longer a worker who has lost a limb will have to wait to receive compensation that has already been recognized by the courts, and whether the perpetrators will ever pay the debt that depends on that payment.
This case is not the only one that reflects the institutional neglect towards workers in the electrical sector who have suffered severe injuries. Osmani Hernández, a former lineman from Havana who lost both arms in September 2025, reported that the company has failed to keep its promises of support almost a year after the accident.
Related videos:
Filed under: