KIGALI,
Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda ‘hero’ Paul Rusesabagina will be put on remand for 30 days pending trial after the Kicukiro Primary Court ruled on Thursday that there are strong reasons to believe that he committed the alleged crimes and releasing him would jeopardise investigations.
Judges said that given the nature
of charges Rusesabagina faces, which attract more than two years each and
considering that investigations are still ongoing, releasing him would affect
the process, basing on Article 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedures to rule
against Rusesabagina’s bail request.
“After assessing the charges
brought forward by Prosecution and after hearing the arguments of the defence,
court found strong reasons to believe that the defendant committed the alleged
crimes, hence he will continue to be detained for 30 days, pending trial,”
“Court also found no proof to
suggest that he will not continue to receive medical care while in detention,”
the Judge said in a brief session, adding that the defendant has five days to
appeal this decision.
Rusesabagina, flanked by his
lawyers David Rugaza and Emeline Nyembo, immediately put up his hand and said
that he had appealed the decision.
The 66-year old, who faces 13
charges including terrorism, conspiracy to create an illegal armed group,
forcefully recruiting underage children into armed groups, murder, conspiracy
to murder and arson among other charges preferred
not to plead guilty or not, on the charges during the pre-trial hearing at
Kicukiro Primary Court, stating that he would prefer to explain himself on each
charge when the trial goes into substance.
Particularly judges based on
terrorism charges and offences against the state to deny him bail because they
are of serious nature.
Judges also dismissed
Rusesabagina’s Lawyer’s arguments that releasing him would not jeopardise
investigations.
On Monday, Prosecutors pinned
Rusesabagina on the alleged crimes, based on the activities of National
Liberation Front (NLF), the armed wing of Rusesabagina’s Rwandan Movement for
Democratic Change (MRCD) coalition.
The coalition launched terror
attacks on the southwestern part of Rwanda, between June 2018 and April 2019,
killing at least 9 people, injuring many, and ransacking homes and businesses.
Rusesabagina, who was presented
to the media on August 31 upon arrest, faces a number of charges including
treason and inciting others to commit treason, complicity in involuntary
manslaughter, kidnapping, armed robbery and complicity to harm or injure
others, among other charges.
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