By Jacob Kubeka –
Rwandan public prosecutor has filed an appeal against the High Court’s decision to sentence Paul Rusesabagina, the “Hotel Rwanda” hero, to 25 years in prison.
The East African in a previous report, noted that, Rusesabagina and 19 co-accused were found guilty of terrorism and membership on September 20, in a rebel organization responsible for fatal gun, grenade, and arson assaults in Rwanda in 2018 and 2019. During the attacks, at least nine individuals were killed, while others were injured and property was plundered or damaged.
If the prosecution wins the appeal, the 67-year-old former hotelier, who is credited with saving over 1,200 lives during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and whose efforts inspired the Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda, might face life in jail.
The co-accused were sentenced to three to 20 years in prison.
The prosecution, which lodged its appeal on October 20, had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the “lenient sentences” handed to some convicts saying some charges had been dropped.
By press time, it was unclear whether Rusesabagina, who also had until Wednesday to appeal, had done so. But, Moise Nkundabarashi, a lawyer representing his co-accused Callixte Sankara, confirmed to have filed an appeal on Monday, October 18.
“We have appealed against the sentence given to my client and some of the accusations,” Mr Nkundabarashi said.
Callixte Nsabimana alias Sankara was convicted for creating a terrorist group and committing acts of terrorism.