A Gabonese court on Wednesday sentenced former First Lady Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, 62, and her son Noureddin Bongo Valentin, 33, to 20 years in prison following a two-day graft trial, AFP reports.
Both were tried in absentia and found guilty of embezzlement and related charges.
The court accused Sylvia Bongo of manipulating her husband, ex-President Ali Bongo, to divert public funds, a claim she has denied.
Noureddin Bongo described the trial as a “legal farce” in a recent interview.
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Ali Bongo, who ruled Gabon for 14 years and succeeded his father Omar Bongo Ondimba, was deposed in a military coup on August 30, 2023, shortly after being declared the winner of a controversial election.
Following the coup, the former first family was detained for 20 months before being released in May and allowed to leave the country.
Both Sylvia and Noureddin hold French citizenship and allege they endured torture during their detention.
Prosecutor Eddy Minang said witness testimonies revealed a system of diverting public funds “for the benefit of private interests.”
Ten former allies of the Bongos are also on trial for complicity in embezzlement, with proceedings expected to continue until Friday.
