KIGALI – Paul Rusesabagina, portrayed in the film Hotel Rwanda as the hero who saved fellow Rwandans during the 1994 genocide, was on Monday charged with 12 counts, including terrorism, murder, financing terrorism, forming terror groups, and arson.
Rusesabagina appeared in Kagarama Primary Court in Kigali where the counts were read to him by presiding judge Dorothy Yankurije.
However, his team of lawyers led by Mr David Rugaza told the court that their client does not reside in Rwanda, and he has not committed crimes in Rwanda.
“The crimes against my client are not consistent. He should not be accused of crimes committed by other parties even if he had entered into a partnership with them. It is on this ground that he should immediately be released provisionally,” Mr Rugaza added.
State prosecutor Oscar Butera challenged the submissions saying the suspect is on the record claiming to be a national of two foreign countries.
By the time of filing this story, the trial was still ongoing.
Rusesabagina, a Hutu, became well known after Hotel Rwanda depicted his efforts to save hundreds of Tutsis at his hotel during the 1994 genocide. He later launched an opposition party, which had an armed wing based in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
