The man who inspired the film ‘Hotel Rwanda’ was convicted of terrorism offences Monday and sentenced to 25 years in prison in a trial that human rights watchdogs and other critics of Rwanda's repressive government have described as an act of retaliation.
Paul Rusesabagina, credited with saving ethnic Tutsis during Rwanda's 1994 genocide and a recipient of the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, boycotted the announcement of the verdict after saying he didn't expect justice in a trial he called a “sham”.
The US resident and Belgian citizen was convicted on nine charges including the formation of an illegal armed group, membership in a terrorist group, financing a terror group, murder and abduction.