A court in Gabon has sentenced the former first lady, Sylvia Bongo, and her son, Noureddin, to 20 years in jail following a swift two-day trial. The pair was found guilty of embezzlement and corruption after running the country for personal gain during former President Ali Bongo's illness after his stroke in 2018.
During the trial, which commenced without their presence, both were fined 100m CFA francs ($177,000; £135,000), with Noureddin required to pay an additional 1.2tn CFA francs ($2.1bn) for financial damages incurred by the Gabonese state.
After a coup in August 2023, which saw Ali Bongo removed from power, Sylvia and her son were detained for nearly 20 months but were allowed to leave the country for medical reasons. The former president remains free and hasn't faced prosecution.
The trial raised eyebrows as Sylvia Bongo and her son labeled it a 'legal farce' and did not attend. Despite this development, proceedings against other accused individuals who allegedly collaborated with them continue.
The Bongo family held power for over five decades, with Ali Bongo serving 14 years in office. The family has been criticized for amassing personal wealth while a significant portion of Gabon's population lives in poverty amidst the country’s oil riches.
During the trial, which commenced without their presence, both were fined 100m CFA francs ($177,000; £135,000), with Noureddin required to pay an additional 1.2tn CFA francs ($2.1bn) for financial damages incurred by the Gabonese state.
After a coup in August 2023, which saw Ali Bongo removed from power, Sylvia and her son were detained for nearly 20 months but were allowed to leave the country for medical reasons. The former president remains free and hasn't faced prosecution.
The trial raised eyebrows as Sylvia Bongo and her son labeled it a 'legal farce' and did not attend. Despite this development, proceedings against other accused individuals who allegedly collaborated with them continue.
The Bongo family held power for over five decades, with Ali Bongo serving 14 years in office. The family has been criticized for amassing personal wealth while a significant portion of Gabon's population lives in poverty amidst the country’s oil riches.
