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Inmate Dies in Police Custody Due to Delayed Medical Care in Santiago de Cuba

Saturday, October 26, 2024 by Abigail Marquez

Inmate Dies in Police Custody Due to Delayed Medical Care in Santiago de Cuba
Deceased inmate - Image from © Facebook / Yosmany Mayeta

Enoldys Castellano Pagán, a 36-year-old inmate at Boniato prison in Santiago de Cuba, tragically passed away on Monday after not receiving timely medical care, according to health workers' reports. Local journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared on his well-followed Facebook page that Castellano was taken to Saturnino Lora Provincial Hospital after enduring severe discomfort for several days while incarcerated, but the intervention came too late.

Hospital staff disclosed that upon arrival, Castellano exhibited symptoms suggestive of potential tuberculosis. Although the medical team advised immediate hospitalization, prison guards opted to return him to Boniato, signing a document assuming full responsibility for any ensuing complications. Merely hours later, Castellano was brought back to the hospital, where he succumbed to his condition around 1:00 AM.

Close acquaintances of Castellano revealed that he was suffering from hypertension and had undergone open-heart surgery in the past, necessitating special medical attention. His family was notified of his death at 5:00 AM, after the completion of a postmortem examination.

Accusations of Negligence and Calls for Accountability

The journalist reports that Castellano’s family and friends are accusing authorities of "police negligence" and are demanding an investigation into those accountable for the failure to address the inmate's critical health condition promptly.

Alarming Statistics on Custodial Deaths in Cuba

The non-governmental organization Cubalex recently stated that 56 individuals died while in custody in Cuba from January 2022 to January 2024. Of these deaths, 36 occurred in prisons, nine in police stations, and 11 during military service. The organization highlights that many of these deaths were due to negligence, violence, and inadequate medical care.

Cubalex emphasizes that these custodial deaths underscore "a systematic pattern of human rights violations and a lack of accountability by the Cuban state."

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