Canadian’s conviction overturned but he can’t leave Cuba, wife says

MONTREAL — A Quebec man who was sentenced to four years in a Cuban jail following a boating incident that killed a fellow tourist isn’t being allowed to return to Canada, even though his conviction has been overturned, his wife said Wednesday.

Kahina Bensaadi said her husband. Toufik Benhamiche. is no longer charged with any crime, but has not been allowed to leave the country because the case is still under investigation.

“He’s no longer convicted, he’s no longer charged, he’s no longer anything, but they don’t want to let him leave,” she said.

Benhamiche, 47, was driving a small boat as part of a tourist excursion in July 2017 in Cayo Coco when it veered out of control and fatally struck a woman from Ontario.

A Cuban court found the Mascouche resident guilty of criminal negligence causing death and sentenced him to four years in prison.

But in June, Cuba’s highest court found flaws in the lower court’s handling of the case and reversed all its decisions including the conviction, Bensaadi said.