Cuba says drugs, alcohol caused Chilean's death
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- Personalities
- 04 / 16 / 2010
The death of Roberto Baudrand, 59, whose body was found in his Havana apartment on Tuesday, prompted speculation he may have killed himself over a Cuban probe involving government agencies and companies, including a joint venture he managed, but the statement did not say whether he died by suicide or other means.
It did not say how much alcohol Baudrand had consumed nor which drugs were in his system, in findings said to be based on a preliminary investigation and autopsy by Cuba's Institute of Legal Medicine.
On Thursday, sources close to the case and Baudrand's family said they had been told preliminary autopsy results found he had died of a heart attack.
The Chilean government has asked for a full investigation by Cuban authorities.
Baudrand was manager of food firm Rio Zaza, a joint venture between the Cuban government and Chilean businessman Max Marambio, a former bodyguard for the late Chilean President Salvador Allende who became a close ally of former Cuban leader
Fidel Castro.
In its statement, the government confirmed for the first time that Rio Zaza was under investigation for "the presumed commission of irregularities and violations of laws."
It said a group of Chilean executives have been implicated, but with the exception of Baudrand they had "abandoned the country" or not shown up for questioning.
Baudrand had been requested to stay in Cuba until the investigation was finished, the statement said.
Marambio's lawyer, Eduardo Contreras, told Reuters on Thursday he believed Baudrand died of natural causes but could not rule out suicide.
"Roberto was a depressive person and had hypertension. When I traveled to Havana, he had me bring medicines several times," the lawyer said. "I saw that Robert was very nervous, very tense," Contreras added.
One of Baudrand's relatives told Chilean media on Wednesday he had heart problems and likely died of a heart attack.
By Jeff Franks
Source: Yahoo
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