The Spanish National Police have urged Cuban authorities to closely monitor Martiño Ramos Soto, a professor from Ourense who was convicted of the "sadistic" rape of a minor student and fled Spain before serving his prison sentence.
At 50 years old, Ramos was a member of the Galician political group En Marea. He has been located in Havana, where he has lived since July, and is now listed among Spain's top ten most wanted fugitives.
Although there is no active extradition treaty between Cuba and Spain, both countries are engaged in diplomatic and police discussions to secure his extradition.
According to a report by Europa Press, the Provincial Court of Ourense officially requested the extradition of Martiño Ramos Soto on October 31, after confirming his whereabouts in the Cuban capital through police sources.
Ramos managed to flee Spain using his own passport, following a planned route through Portugal, Brazil, and Peru before arriving in Cuba. "His escape was meticulously planned," investigators acknowledge, expressing concerns that the pedophile might escape again unless surveillance on the island is intensified.
In Cuba, the convicted individual has been presenting himself as "Martín Soto" for months, working as a documentary photographer in the Havana neighborhood of El Vedado, where he frequents galleries and cafes.
His social media accounts depict a peaceful life, far removed from his past as a teacher and political activist in Galicia.
Martiño Ramos Soto received a prison sentence of 13 and a half years for repeatedly abusing a 12-year-old student, whom he manipulated and assaulted over years. The verdict highlighted the "cruelty and persistence" of the abuses, which occurred under the guise of a supportive and trusting relationship.
The Spanish National Police have requested that Cuban authorities keep a close watch on the fugitive while the extradition request is processed.
Cuban state-run media have not reported on this case nor confirmed the arrest of this fugitive in Havana.
FAQs on the Extradition Case of Martiño Ramos Soto
What are the charges against Martiño Ramos Soto?
Martiño Ramos Soto was convicted of the sadistic rape of a 12-year-old student, which he repeatedly committed over several years. The court emphasized the cruelty and persistence of his actions.
Is there an extradition treaty between Cuba and Spain?
Currently, there is no active extradition treaty between Cuba and Spain. However, both nations are in diplomatic and police negotiations regarding the extradition of Martiño Ramos Soto.
How did Martiño Ramos Soto manage to flee Spain?
Ramos used his own passport and a carefully planned route through Portugal, Brazil, and Peru to escape Spain before reaching Cuba.