Prosecution on Thursday, April 1, stressed that Paul Rusesabagina had full knowledge of terror attacks launched on Rwandan territory between 2018 and 2019 and claimed lives of nine civilians including a 13-year-old.
This was said in the ongoing trial involving 21 terror suspects linked to MRCD and its military wing FLN. The case is being tried by the High Court Special Chamber for International and Cross-border Crimes.
Among all suspects, Rusesabagina was the sole absentee during Thursday’s hearing.
Following a decision by the high court to reject his request to push trial for six months on March 12, the suspect informed court that he would no longer show up in courtroom.
Nonetheless, presiding judge Antoine Muhima, on several occasions, said that the suspect is informed about court proceedings of every hearing, adding that he can attend the trial anytime he decides to.
On Thursday, prosecution pinned Rusesabagina on four more charges; financing terrorism, murder as an act of terrorism, abduction as an act of terrorism, and armed robbery as an act of terrorism.
Overall, he faces nine counts linked to terrorism.
According to prosecution there is incriminating evidence that Rusesabagina was certainly informed about terror attacks allegedly committed by MRCD-FLN.
National Prosecutor Claudine Dushimimana informed court that findings from an investigation done by Belgian police revealed that Rusesabagina was at one time in touch with Antoine Hakizimana alias Jeva, the commander of FLN in northern region of DR Congo.
She said that in the chat history, Hakizimana told Rusesabagina military operations that FLN was carrying out and requested him to send them more money to feed the militiamen and afford other basic things.
In response, she added, Rusesabagina thanked him for the report and promised him that he is going to do everything possible together with his partners and find money to send him.
"This clearly shows that Rusesabagina was not only in the presidential seat of MRCD but was also well aware of what the money they sent to FLN militia would do,” Dushimimana noted.
Claiming responsibility
Meanwhile, prosecutor Dushimimana informed court that in one video available on YouTube, Rusesabagina claimed responsibility for armed attacks that FLN had launched on Rwandan territory in 2018, and pledged his "unreserved support” to the militia group in 2019.
"The attacks he referred to had already claimed lives of civilians in 2018, and it became the same case in 2019 after he pledged his support to FLN’s terrorism activities and called on others to join him,” she said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prosecutor General Angelique Habimana also underscored that Rusesabagina, being a top leader of MRCD, there was no way he was not aware of the planned terror activities of FLN.
Rusesabagina has been the president of MRCD coalition since its formation in 2017, and had two vice-presidents; Callixte Nsabimana alias Sankara who owned RRM (Rwanda Revolution Movement) and ‘General’ Wilson Irategeka (the founder of CNRD-Ubwiyunge).
Irategeka, who was appointed leader of FLN in D.R. Congo was eventually killed in a military offensive by DR Congo military against armed groups operating in the country.
RDI Rwanda Nziza of Faustin Twagiramungu also later join the coalition.
In previous hearings, Nsabimana, who was once the Spokesperson of FLN, informed the court that FLN would not carry out military operations without the knowledge of the top leadership of MRCD.
In the ongoing substantive trial, the court has not yet heard defense of the accused, apart from Nsabimana who pleaded guilty of all 17 counts against him and is now waiting for the court’s verdict.
The trial will resume on April 21 at 8:30 a.m.