The Rev. Lleonart Barroso, a Baptist pastor, was arrested and detained by political police and state security agents in central Cuba on January 25.
He was returned to his home later that night and put under house arrest.
Wife and daughters
Political police surrounded the home of the pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Taguayabon, in the early hours. His wife was forcibly stopped by security services when she attempted to leave the house with their two young daughters to warn her husband, who was not home at the time. He was arrested in front of his family in the street as he returned home.
Prints and samples
Pastor Barroso was held incommunicado for most of the day. He was returned home late in the evening and put under house arrest. During his detention, prints were taken of his fingers and toes, a scent sample was taken and the pastor was forced to give DNA samples from his nails and teeth. State security agents also attempted to intimidate him into signing an Official Warning, which is frequently used in the Cuban court system as evidence in future arrests. He refused. Since his return home, two armed political police officers have stood guard outside his home.
