A tourist originally from Italy was the victim of an armed robbery while traveling aboard a rented car on the roads of Sancti Spíritus last Thursday, April 18.
The fact was confirmed by the state media Radio Sancti Spíritus, which stated that there were three people involved in this crime.
Lieutenant Colonel Rolando Rodríguez Carmenate, head of the Criminal Investigation Body of the Ministry of the Interior (Minint) in the province, indicated that two of the thieves had already been arrested in the days following the assault, although he did not mention the third individual involved.
The victim, identified as Salvatore Gonario, was intercepted around 11:00 pm at the Siguaney intersection.
The tourist, not being aware of the high levels of insecurity that exist on the Island, stopped after three people signaled to him with the lights of the car in which they were traveling. After that, one of the subjects got out with a firearm and threatened him to get out of the rented vehicle.
The tourist refused, but one of the men, who had his face covered, opened the door and pushed him out, hitting him a couple of times in the process.
“A car came out in front of me and blocked me. Then this man in a balaclava came out with a gun in his hand and shouted, open up. I tell him, no, I won’t open it for you and he says, open it or I’ll kill you,” the tourist declared to the aforementioned media.
Despite the blows he received, the Italian stated that he fought against his attacker, but stopped fighting because the other person was carrying the firearm.
The assailant ended up taking the key to the vehicle and drove away from the scene with the other car and his two accomplices. Additionally, the thieves took 1,300 euros and almost all of his belongings, which were inside the rental car.
The man claimed to have rented the car in Havana, and that he was heading to Holguín to meet his wife, the Cuban Dania Olivero.
Rodríguez Carmenate told the aforementioned media that, after learning about the crime, a work team was formed with personnel from various specialties, which was in charge of carrying out the investigation.
The Minint official stressed that the crime was taken as a priority due to the presence of the firearm used to threaten the tourist. Finally, he assured that the foreigner was provided medical and consular assistance.
The authorities indicated that an operation carried out on April 26 ended with the arrest of two of the thieves, whose names were not revealed. Radio Sancti Spíritus also did not mention the third thief involved.
Those arrested were a man and his father, who confessed to their crime after being caught driving the stolen vehicle.
Some of the objects stolen from the Italian were found in the vehicle, so they were returned to him, however, the money remains missing.
The incident once again reveals the wave of violence that is increasing within the Island, which has begun to affect foreigners who decide to visit the country. Despite this, the regime continues to sell the image of Cuba as a safe destination for tourists.
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