The Cuban mother who reported in March that her 15-year-old daughter had been raped by the assistant principal of Panchito Gómez Toro Polytechnic in Holguín has decided to come forward publicly. The daughter, who has a severe intellectual disability, was assaulted in December 2023. Using his authority, the man took the teenager to a classroom on the fourth floor of the school at 7:00 am, locked the door, and sexually assaulted her despite her attempts to leave.
Initially, Cuban Justice dismissed the assault as a minor offense, arguing that since the girl did not scream, it was not rape. However, following the mother's appeal and the case's publication on CiberCuba, the Holguín Provincial Prosecutor's Office overturned the decision of prosecutor Á. W. Sánchez and ordered the provisional detention of Miguel Antonio R. S., the former assistant principal of Panchito Gómez Toro. Despite this, "he only served one month in preventive detention before being released on a 15,000 pesos bail," the mother explained, desperate because there is still no trial date and the man is free.
"My daughter is terrified of running into this degenerate," the mother added. She has resumed her "battle" for her daughter's safety and her family's peace of mind. She also noted that the first time the teacher was arrested, he was released after three days.
Mother's Fight for Justice
"In January 2024, I took up the case again. Seeing the slow progress, I made the case public, writing to the Presidency, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic, and other institutions. The case moved slowly. Since it began, it has been handled by three different prosecutors," she said, adding that the accused had previously worked at another school but was transferred after a mother complained about his "excessive familiarity" with her daughter. "He didn't like it and requested a transfer in July, starting work at Panchito Gómez Toro in September, where he began preying on my daughter." The mother detailed how the assistant principal would give the girl sweets and constantly watch her in the classroom, hallways, and during physical education classes.
"After relentless efforts, my social media posts, and contacting every authority, the prosecutor approved the provisional detention, and on March 4, he was imprisoned. He only stayed for a month. His lawyer requested his release on bail, claiming that my statements about my daughter's mental age were false."
"On April 24, I was summoned to the pediatric hospital, where I was informed that my daughter would undergo a medical examination. More than five specialists from a provincial legal commission determined that although my daughter had been seen by several psychologists and psychiatrists since she was five, none had diagnosed a mental delay. At 15, it couldn't be diagnosed at a glance. My daughter had to be admitted to the psychiatry ward for three days, where multiple tests confirmed she had a borderline and reduced mental capacity, not a mental delay because she socialized normally and attended regular schools despite not meeting grade objectives." The mother explained that her daughter was diagnosed with a C-75 borderline intellectual capacity, concrete thinking tendencies, communication difficulties, dependency, vulnerability to influence, decision-making challenges, feelings of inferiority, complexes, and a mental age below her chronological age.
They also found that she is anxious, has a high pain threshold, is immature, identifies with younger children, watches cartoons, has obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and is sensitive to negative criticism.
The mother recounted that academically, her daughter adapted well to kindergarten and elementary school, although she was always average and never met grade objectives, as noted in a report dated May 30.
"I want to believe I live in a country that delivers justice and is not corrupt. I hope the process is not tainted because this man has a relative in State Security or the police. I just want him to pay for what he did. This only happened at the school because my daughter does not go out at night, and we know how dangerous the streets are. This man is free, living comfortably while my family can't sleep peacefully. We won't rest until this monster is behind bars. After eight months, the case remains unchanged," she concluded.
Justice System in Cuba: Challenges and Concerns
In light of this troubling case, several key questions arise regarding the Cuban justice system's handling of sexual assault cases and the safety of vulnerable individuals.
Why did the Cuban justice system initially classify the assault as a minor offense?
The Cuban justice system initially classified the assault as a minor offense, arguing that the lack of a scream from the victim indicated it was not a rape, reflecting a troubling misunderstanding of consent and the nature of sexual violence.
What actions did the mother take to seek justice for her daughter?
The mother made the case public, contacted multiple institutions including the Presidency and the Ministry of Justice, and persistently posted on social media, which eventually led to the suspect's provisional detention.
What were the findings of the medical examination on the victim?
The medical examination revealed that the victim has a borderline intellectual capacity, concrete thinking tendencies, communication difficulties, dependency issues, vulnerability, decision-making challenges, feelings of inferiority, complexes, and a mental age below her chronological age.