Paul Rusesabagina, in his first appearance before the Kicukiro District Court on Monday 14 September, said he will plead neither guilty nor not guilty. He faces 14 counts.
At the preliminary hearing, prosecutors have brought a total of 14 charges against Paul Rusesabagina including terrorism, murder, arson, forming an armed group and recruitment of combatants.
The standing judiciary stated that it was in possession of material evidence. Prosecutors said they have letters detailing Rusesabagina’s activities. Some were obtained during a search in Belgium. Audio documents of conversations involving Rusesabagina and others are also in the hands of the prosecutors as well as evidence of money transfers.
In some of the activities, Rusesabagina admitted during his interrogation that he had collected up to US$300,000 and in other cases US$100,000 to support the activities of the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN).
When asked by the seated judiciary whether Rusesabagina would plead guilty or not guilty, the alleged perpetrator replied that he would prefer to answer each of the charges at trial.
Rusesabagina stated that, for example, during the interrogation, he admitted to supporting the Front National de Libération (FNL) but that his intention was not to support a group that ended up killing people. He said that for each accusation he had an explanation, where in some cases he partially admitted responsibility and in others he did not.
Before the judge, the alleged perpetrator was assisted by two lawyers, Emeline Nyembo and David Rugaza.
The first appearance concerned bail. The court’s decision is not yet known at the time of writing.
Gérard Rugambwa
