'Hotel Rwanda' hero could face terror finance charges in case against opposition leader

 Possible charges: Paul Rusesabagina who was depicted in the movie Hotel Rwanda is facing terror finance claims
The man who saved more than 1,200 people from genocide and whose heroism was depicted in the movie Hotel Rwanda has been warned he could face terror financing charges.
Paul Rusesabagina was implicated by Rwanda's prosecutor general Martin Ngoga who notified him that charges may be filed against him as part of the current terrorism case against a Rwandan opposition leader.
Mr Ngoga said that Rwandan courts would summon Mr Rusesabagina because investigations indicated he funded terrorism activities that opposition leader Victoire Ingabire is being held for.
He claims Mr Rusesabagina helped fund commanders with the FDLR, or Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda.
Ms Ingabire, who is the outspoken head of the unregistered United Democratic Forces (UDF) party was arrested by police on October 14.
She pleaded not guilty at a hearing on Monday and said that the case against her is politically motivated.
Mr Rusesabagina also questioned the prosecutor's motives and said today that Rwanda was embarking on a 'smear campaign' against him because his foundation advocates a reconciliation process in the troubled country.
He claimed that anyone who opposed Rwandan President Paul Kagame was harassed.
Mr Ngoga said: 'We have evidence that Paul Rusesabagina is one of those others who have been financing the same genocidal rebels of the FDLR'

Horrific: The 100 day genocide in Rwanda in 1994 claimed the lives of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus who were massacred

'We have the dates of transactions made. Money was sent from San Antonio, Texas, and received in different banks in Bujumbura and Dar es Salaam. The people who received this money told us what the money was for', he stated.
The prosecutor also called on the U.S. to help Rwanda investigate the case against Mr Rusesabagina.
'The Rwandan law allows prosecution in absentia. The transactions are enough to offer the evidence. Rwanda has already made contacts with the war crimes office in the U.S. and this evidence has been submitted', he said.
He further gained worldwide recognition when he was portrayed by Don Cheadle in the award winning Hollywood film.

Denial: Rusesabagina was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005 has denied the terror claims and said he was the victim of a 'smear campaign'

The Oscar nominated movie showed his attempt to save the lives of his family and more than a thousand other refugees by granting them shelter in a beleaguered hotel.
It showed his real-life story as the hotel manager who used his connections with the Hutu elite to protect Tutsis and moderate Hutus flee militiamen during the genocide.
President George W. Bush awarded Mr Rusesabagina with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House in 2005.
Mr Rusesabagina now lives in the U.S. and tours Western countries lecturing on Rwanda's 1994 genocide.
Over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered in the central African nation in 100 days stemming from April 6 1994.

Big screen depiction: Mr Rusesabagina was portrayed by Don Cheadle in the 2004 award winning movie Hotel Rwanda