Cuba Archive - Case 146

Case ID: 146

Title: N/A

First name: Rafael Yunieskis

Last name: Sagarra Coba

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: N/A

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: N/A

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:3 / Month:4 / Year:2012

Citizenship: N/A

Last known address: Unit 1580, San Miguel del Padrón

Last known city: Havana

Last known province-TOD: Ciudad de La Habana

Last known province current: Ciudad de La Habana

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: N/A

Location of death - city: N/A

Location of death province - at TOD: Santiago de Cuba

Location of death province - current: Santiago de Cuba

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: No

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: N/A

Arrest or detention at time of death: No

Date of arrest: N/A

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: N/A

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: MININT (MInistry of the Interior) - suspected

Associated Event: Body tampering/missing parts/family denied remains

Case description:

Rafael was in training at Unit 1580 (El Pitirre), San Miguel del Padron, Havana, to enter the Special Troops of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT). On April 3, 2012, his grandmother, María Celeste Moler Kindelán, resident of Santiago de Cuba, received a call that her grandson had deserted his unit. Nine days later, on May 12, 2012, they notified her that his body had been found naked by a lagoon, where he had allegedly drowned. 14 days later, the body was delivered to the family at Santa Ifigenia cemetery of Santiago de Cuba. The family demanded to see the body and were told it was not possible. After insisting, they opened the coffin and found that the head was missing. They want a DNA test to confirm the identity of the body. The family has demanded an explanation from government authorities and have written to Raúl Castro.
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Rafael estaba en entrenamiento en la Unidad 1580 (El Pitirre), San Miguel del Padrón, La Habana, para ingresar a las Tropas Especiales del Ministerio del Interior (MININT). El 3 de abril de 2012, su abuela, María Celeste Moler Kindelán, residente de Santiago de Cuba, recibió una llamada de que su nieto había abandonado su unidad. Nueve días después, el 12 de abril de 2012, le notificaron que su cuerpo había sido encontrado desnudo en una laguna, donde supuestamente se había ahogado. 14 días después, el cuerpo fue entregado a la familia en el cementerio de Santa Ifigenia de Santiago de Cuba. La familia exigió ver el cuerpo y les dijeron que no era posible. Después de insistir, abrieron el ataúd y descubrieron que faltaba la cabeza. Quieren una prueba de ADN para confirmar la identidad del cuerpo. La familia ha exigido una explicación de las autoridades gubernamentales y ha escrito a Raúl Castro.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Reported: Highly likely / Highly reliable source(s)

Cause of Death: - Extrajudicial killing

Occupations: - Military Specific Occupations

External Files: - Document : Letter to Fidel Castro from family

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Armed Forces: military or militia

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - Rafael Yunieskis Sagarra Coba