EXCLUSIVE: Mississauga man detained in Cuba since July crash

It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation in Cuba but a wrong turn ended in tragedy for one Mississauga man.

Damian Buksa, 32, headed to the island nation on July 21 and has been unable to return home ever since.

One night, while at a party, a friend he had recently met drove Buksa and another person home.

The car smashed into a tree, killing the driver and injuring both Buksa and the other passenger.

Because the rental car was under Buksa’s name, he was taken into custody.

He has now been ordered to stay in the country by authorities until the investigation into the crash is complete.

“I was told I’m not allowed to leave the country and I’ve contacted the Canadian consulate and they told me the same thing,” Buksa told CityNews by phone.

“My understanding of the law over there is that if someone is in a vehicle crash they are required to stay there and face trial and even prove their own innocence,” lawyer Stacey Nichols, who also has a client detained in Cuba, told CityNews.

Buksa’s mother says the family is exhausting all legal avenues to bring him home and is calling on the Canadian government to take action.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada said that Canadian consular officials in Cuba are in contact with local authorities to gather more information and are providing consular assistance as required.

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