A Gabonese court has sentenced former First Lady Sylvia Bongo and her son Noureddin Bongo Valentin—son of ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba—to 20 years in prison for embezzlement and corruption after a two-day trial held in their absence.
They were fined 100 million CFA francs ($177,000; £135,000), and Noureddin must pay an extra 1.2 trillion CFA francs ($2.1bn; £1.6bn) in damages to the state.
Prosecutors said they exploited Ali Bongo’s 2018 stroke to control government affairs and enrich themselves but both had called the trial “a legal farce.”
The sentencing comes after Ali Bongo’s ouster in the August 2023 coup led by Brice Oligui Nguema, now president.
Sylvia and Noureddin were detained for 20 months before being released in May and allowed to travel to London on medical grounds.
Ali Bongo, who ruled for 14 years after succeeding his father’s 42-year rule, is not facing prosecution.
Prosecutor Eddy Minang said he was “surprised” they did not appear in court.
Trials for nine other accused, including ex-Bongo allies, continue until Friday.
The Bongo family, who ruled Gabon for over 50 years, have long faced corruption and wealth-hoarding accusations, which they deny.
Despite its oil wealth, a third of Gabon’s population lives in poverty, according to the UN.
BBC Africa/Maxwell Oyekunle
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