A supposed kidnapping involving an 18-year-old college student in Bayamo, located in the Granma province, was revealed to be a fabricated scheme intended to extort money from her family. This was confirmed on Sunday by the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) following an investigation into a case that had stirred concern across social media platforms.
CNC TV Granma released the information, sharing an official statement from MININT. The statement identified the student as Amanda Kamila Pérez Casal, a first-year Agronomy Engineering major at Bayamo’s University Campus II.
The investigation initially began as a missing person case, ultimately uncovering that Amanda had conspired with two other individuals to extort money from her family. Amanda admitted her involvement in the plot and identified her accomplices. However, authorities have not disclosed the identities of these individuals or the amount of money they sought to obtain.
MININT has stated that those involved are being charged with simulating a crime, as per the Cuban Penal Code. However, the specific legal status of the individuals involved, including whether they are detained, has not been clarified.
The institution emphasized its commitment to rigorously addressing such behavior to ensure public safety and peace.
Details of the Fabricated Incident
The case first gained public attention in late October when Amanda was reported missing. On November 2, a comprehensive police operation unfolded in the Viviendas Campesinas neighborhood of Bayamo, involving the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), special forces, and MININT officers.
During the search, independent sources reported that the alleged kidnappers demanded a ransom of $2,000 and had made phone calls to the family. These claims circulated prior to the release of the investigation's findings, and the official statement did not corroborate these details.
Amanda was found alive on November 3, and rumors began to spread suggesting a self-orchestrated kidnapping, tied to sources within MININT. Until the official statement, no formal institutional communication had confirmed this conclusion.
Understanding the Granma Kidnapping Hoax
What led authorities to believe the kidnapping was a hoax?
The investigation revealed a planned attempt by Amanda and two others to extort her family, which she later confessed to, leading authorities to classify the incident as a staged kidnapping.
Were the supposed kidnappers identified?
While Amanda identified the other two individuals involved, the authorities have not disclosed their identities to the public.
What charges are being brought against those involved?
The individuals are being charged with simulating a crime under the Cuban Penal Code, though specific details of their legal status are not yet public.