Italian National Identified in Havana Hit-and-Run Incident Revealed by Cuban Government

The Cuban government has disclosed the identity of the Italian citizen charged with the multiple hit-and-run incident that took place on August 25 in Havana, resulting in the death of one woman and injuries to eight others. The accused is Mario Pontolillo, a 56-year-old with permanent residency in Cuba. He is currently under preventive detention and barred from leaving the country, as outlined in an official statement from the Office of the Attorney General.

According to the report, Pontolillo is being investigated for "deliberately running over individuals with the vehicle he was driving on public roads in the Centro Habana and Habana Vieja municipalities," an act deemed severe due to its impact on public safety. The Attorney General's Office states that they are conducting investigative procedures to gather evidence and complete the investigation, and they will pursue public criminal action in court, seeking penalties commensurate with the severity of the crime.

This official statement comes after more than a week of governmental silence and speculation, following an investigation by the independent media outlet 14ymedio, which had initially accused Berto Savina, an Italian businessman with strong ties to the Cuban regime, of being the perpetrator. The accusation was publicly denied by Savina's son, Gianluca Savina, who confirmed his father had been in Italy since August 19, six days before the incident. Official spokesperson Humberto López also refuted his involvement, leading many to suspect the regime was attempting to shield the influential businessman.

For days, the Cuban regime withheld the identity of the detained individual, fueling perceptions of a cover-up, particularly due to Savina's connections with powerful figures like Fidel Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel, as evidenced by photos and reports. The incident occurred in the early hours of August 25, claiming the life of Mairovis Valier Heredia, a 34-year-old mother of three. Her family has publicly criticized the authorities' secrecy and demanded justice. Eyewitness accounts gathered by 14ymedio described a violent, seemingly intentional act, noting the suspect's problematic history in Cuba. However, Mario Pontolillo's name had not been mentioned until now, which reshapes the case and, for some, partially dispels suspicions of institutional protection, although for others, it heightens them.

The statement from the Attorney General concludes by asserting that they will act "in accordance with the law and in defense of our people," yet it has not provided details regarding the judicial hearing or the precise procedural status of the accused.