The Rwanda Immigration Service said Vincent Lurquin was deported on Saturday for working without a document. The head of the Rwanda Immigration Bureau said on Monday that the story of the film Rwanda Hotel on trial for “terrorism” had inspired the man’s Belgian lawyer who was deported for working without permission.
Paul Rusesabagina was portrayed as a hero in the 2004 film about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. He was charged with nine counts Allegations related to terrorism, Including the formation and funding of armed insurgent groups.
Officials said Vincent Lurquin was deported on Saturday after appearing as a lawyer for Rusesabagina the previous day, although he did not obtain legal permission. “He did some work, but he was not authorized to work,” Rwanda Immigration and Immigration Directorate Regis Gattaraiha told Reuters.
Gatarayiha said that Lurquin is in the country on a visitor visa.
“In a Belgian case, he was a lawyer for Rusesabagina… able to assist him in a Rwandan court-he is not a lawyer accredited by the Rwandan Bar Association,” Gatarayiha said.
Gatarayiha said that Lurquin should first be approved by the Rwanda Bar Association and then approved by the Rwanda Immigration Service, but he did not do so.
Rusesabagina’s legal team said in a statement: “Any claim that he entered the country illegally or secretly on a tourist visa is undoubtedly wrong.”
The statement stated that Lurquin had represented Rusesabagina in an investigation in Belgium and needed to talk to his clients.
“With the assistance and understanding of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he arrived in Kigali and told the Rwandan immigration authorities that he was a lawyer and came to Rwanda to visit detained clients. The Rwandan immigration officials gave him a visa,” the statement said.
The statement said that the official records of Friday’s trial did not include Lurkun’s appearance in court on behalf of Rusesabagina, who was represented only by a Rwandan lawyer.
All non-Rwandan lawyers in Rusesabagina have stated in the past that they were denied permission to defend him in a Rwandan court.
The Rwandan Bar Association stated that Lurquin is not a member of the organization and is not allowed to practice in the country.
Government spokesman Yolande Makolo responded to the association’s statement on Twitter, calling Lurquin’s actions a “distortion” and a “desperate” attempt to distract attention from the facts of the trial.
The prosecutor demanded that Rusesabagina be sentenced to life imprisonment, and his family said that he was in poor health and was tortured in prison.
The court is scheduled to render its verdict on September 20.