[All Africa] Prosecution on Wednesday, March 31, revealed in detail to court how Paul Rusesabagina | ...the child of a Hutu father and a Tutsi mother, he was the hotel manager portrayed in the film Hotel Rwanda about the 1994 Tutsi massacre. Subsequent to those events he and his family moved first to Brussels, then Texas. Once his family was safely settled out of the way, he formed the Movement for Democratic Change in Rwanda (MRCD) which has an armed wing, the National Liberation Front (FLN), because he found the current government of Rwanda unacceptable. It turns out some people think that makes him a terrorist... |
His decision followed a court ruling that rejected his request to push trial for six months.
He is among 21 individuals being tried at the High Court Special Chamber for International and Cross-border Crimes over accusations linked to terrorism committed by MRCD-FLN.
His co-accused attended the hearing that is presided over by high court judge Antoine Muhima.
Rusesabagina faces nine charges including formation of an irregular gang, membership of a terrorist group, financing terrorism, murder as an act of terrorism, and abduction as an act of terrorism.
Other counts are armed robbery as an act of terrorism, arson as an act of terrorism, attempted murder as an act of terrorism, and assault and battery as an act of terrorism.
According to prosecution, on the charge of financing terrorism, Rusesabagina on several occasions personally sent money to 'General' Wilson Irategeka, who was the leader of FLN, to run terror activities of the militia group based in D.R. Congo.
Irategeka was eventually killed in a military offensive by DR Congo military against gangs operating in the country.
During Wednesday's hearing, Claudine Dushimimana, a National Prosecutor, mentioned that during interrogations, Rusesabagina admitted sending a total of $20,000 to FLN, adding that, there were also other sums of money that would be collected through fundraisings organized by MRCD and contributions by members of the coalition.