• Submitted by: admin
• Local
• Havana
• International
• North America
• Society
• Politics and Government
• 06 / 13 / 2008

---

Cuba on Friday sent an American fugitive back to the United States where he is wanted on charges of child sex tourism and possessing child pornography.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry said Leonard Auerbach entered Cuba via Mexico on April 8 and was detained on May 7 based on information provided by U.S. authorities.

In an April press release, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Auerbach, a 61-year-old California resident and mortgage finance expert, had been placed on its "most wanted list" for having sexual relations with and possessing pornographic photos of a girl in Costa Rica.

The Cuban government said it took action because "the crimes of which he is accused in the United States are of grave character and strongly fought by our authorities."

It said it found no evidence he committed a crime in Cuba.

The U.S. Interests Section in Havana had no immediate comment.

Cuba and the United States, 90 miles part, do not have diplomatic relations, but Cuba has repatriated U.S. fugitives in the past.

(Reuters)