Cuban police lift ‘hold departure order’ on Canadian teen

[alp227]

Source: The Canadian Press

The uncle of an Ontario man stuck in Cuba following a car accident says a police order blocking his nephew's departure has been lifted.

It's the latest development that brings Cody LeCompte one step closer to returning home.

A block on the Simcoe, Ont., man's passport was lifted Wednesday after the 19-year-old signed an agreement to return to Cuba if there is a trial.

His uncle, Gary Parmenter, says consular officials told them today that a “hold departure order” has now been lifted by local police.

LeCompte hopes to board a flight home on Friday.

LeCompte's struggle with Cuban law began in late April when the rental car he was driving was sideswiped by a pickup truck and some of his passengers were injured.

The family tried to catch a flight home a few days later, but LeCompte was told that he could not leave the country because accidents resulting in death or injury are treated as crimes.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/cuban-police-lift-hold-departure-order-on-canadian-teen/article1663054/?cmpid=rss1

[CreekDog]

1. Question: if they ask him to return for a trial, should he?

Don't think I would. :shrug:

[mike_c]

2. this is common-- it's the same in Mexico, for instance....

I mean, how else would people who were injured or whose property was damaged ever have a chance to prove their case?