Spanish Fugitive's Attempt to Marry for Cuban Residency Thwarted

Martiño Ramos Soto, a former teacher from Spain sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison for sexually abusing a minor, was apprehended in Havana as he sought to marry in order to secure Cuban residency.

According to statements made to Televisión de Galicia (TVG), Interpol Inspector Roberto Llamazares revealed that Ramos Soto was "trying to regularize his situation" in Cuba.

Arriving in Havana this past July, Ramos Soto attempted to blend into the local scene, leading what Llamazares described as a "quiet life."

In El Vedado, the convicted pedophile managed a screen printing shop and engaged in photography sessions. Known locally as Martín Soto, he was a regular at various bars and restaurants, attended art exhibitions, participated in artistic workshops, and collaborated with local artists.

Reports from La Sexta indicated that Cuban police had been aware of Ramos Soto's presence on the island for months, maintaining surveillance due to his pending sentence. "He was always seen with a mulatto woman," who was to be his prospective wife, according to police reports sent from Cuba.

The case came to a head when the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) arrested Ramos Soto days ago, following a formal extradition request by the Spanish government. This request was initiated after a warrant was issued by the Provincial Court of Ourense on October 31.

Sources informed the EFE news agency that Cuban authorities had monitored Ramos Soto's presence for months, but his capture was delayed until recently. The Spanish and Cuban governments are reportedly cooperating to facilitate his return to Spain, although no extradition treaty currently exists between the two countries.

Ramos Soto is listed among the top ten fugitives sought by Spanish law enforcement. Born in Ourense and aged 50, he was convicted of sexual abuse and sadistic acts against a minor, who was between 12 and 16 years old at the time of the offenses.

After his sentencing in July 2025, Ramos Soto ignored the order to begin his prison term and managed to flee. Investigations suggest he first escaped to Portugal, then traveled to Brazil, continued to Peru, and lastly reached Cuba, where Spanish authorities suspected he had logistical support.

In addition to his role as an educator, Ramos was involved politically, having been a member of the now-defunct En Marea party, and was known in his hometown for teaching music and his political activism.

Ramos Soto's inclusion among Spain's most wanted fugitives is part of a strategic move by the Spanish police, targeting a list that includes drug traffickers, sexual offenders, a murderer, and a notorious robber.

While residing in Havana, Ramos Soto remained active on social media, posting photos as Spanish authorities continued their search. According to La Voz de Galicia, he initially contacted his victim when she was 11 and his music student, leading to a manipulative relationship that resulted in years of abuse.

The assaults began within the school premises and escalated outside, involving physical violence and sadistic practices. The victim, then 16, courageously reported the abuse in September 2021, after a particularly violent incident in which Ramos Soto assaulted her and left her in a deserted area.

During the trial, it was revealed that Ramos had approached other underage students with similar intentions, causing alarm within the educational community. In response, public protests in 2024 called for the Xunta de Galicia to implement a protocol to suspend teachers under investigation for sexual crimes.

The Consellería de Educación suspended Ramos from his teaching duties following the initial judicial ruling. Subsequently, the Galician government introduced a new protocol to combat violence within educational settings.

The Provincial Court of Ourense's ruling not only imposed a prison sentence but also a 21-year prohibition on Ramos working with minors, 8 and a half years of supervised release, a 20 and a half-year restraining order from the victim, and a compensation of 30,000 euros.

The Supreme Court upheld the sentence in July 2025, but Ramos Soto exploited his provisional freedom to flee Spain before receiving the official notification.

The extradition process may be protracted due to the absence of a treaty between Cuba and Spain, confirmed by sources from the Spanish government and the Tribunal Superior de Xustiza de Galicia (TSXG).

Ramos Soto was also recognized for his involvement in the cultural and political life of Ourense: he led musical groups, organized historical events like A Bela Auria, and participated in leftist movements such as Ourense en Común and En Marea, although he never held elected office.