Sylvia Bongo’s imprisonment on fees of embezzling public funds is “arbitrary” and an “unlawful process,” her lawyer has argued
Gabon’s new navy rulers have jailed Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, the spouse of President Ali Bongo, who was faraway from energy in a current coup. The deposed first girl was imprisoned on Wednesday after being accused of cash laundering and forgery late final month, native media reported.
Based on Gabonese media, Sylvia Bongo was subjected to a committal order and detained on the central jail within the capital, Libreville, following a prolonged rehearing by an inspecting Justice of the Peace on Wednesday.
The previous first girl, who had been below home arrest for the reason that navy coup on August 30, was charged with embezzlement of public funds, her lawyer, Francois Zimeray, advised French outlet AFP on Thursday.
Zimeray referred to as the choice to imprison her “arbitrary” and “unlawful.”
Ali Bongo, who had been in energy for 14 years, was positioned below home arrest after a gaggle of Gabonese troopers declared a coup and annulled the outcomes of the nation’s disputed presidential election in August. The longtime chief had been declared the winner with 64.27% of the vote, giving him a 3rd time period to rule the Central African nation after succeeding his father, Omar Bongo, who had been in energy since 1967.
Final month, the brand new Gabonese authorities announced that the ousted president was not in custody and was free to depart the nation.
Learn extra
Bongo suffered a extreme stroke in October 2018, inflicting him to have issue shifting his proper arm and leg. The coup leaders suspected Sylvia Bongo of “manipulating” her husband, who they claimed was affected by the results of the stroke, and of “massively embezzling public funds” alongside sure authorities officers.
Her son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, has additionally been charged with corruption and embezzlement by the coup leaders and has been held in pre-trial detention since August.
Sylvia Bongo denied all the allegations in opposition to her and claimed she was not of Gabonese nationality when she appeared earlier than judges on Wednesday, Gabon Overview reported.
