Sylvia Bongo Valentin has been under house arrest in the capital since her husband was overthrown on August 30 in a coup.
The
wife of Gabon’s deposed President Ali Bongo Ondimba has been charged with
“money laundering” and other offences, the public prosecutor said Friday, a
month after a coup toppled her husband.
Sylvia
Bongo Valentin has been under house arrest in the capital since her husband was
overthrown on August 30, moments after being proclaimed the winner in a
presidential election. Her eldest son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, has already
been charged with corruption.
The
former first lady was charged by an investigating judge on Thursday, prosecutor
Andre Patrick Roponat announced on state TV channels on Friday. Her house
arrest order has also been upheld, Roponat said.
One
of her lawyers said earlier this month that she was being kept “incommunicado
outside any legal framework”.
The
Bongos’ son, Noureddin, has already been charged with corruption and embezzling
public funds with several former cabinet members and two ex-ministers.
Ali
Bongo took over when his father Omar died in 2009 after nearly 42 years in
power. Now 64, Bongo ruled the country until his overthrow this August after
the presidential election.
The
election result was branded a fraud by the opposition and the military coup
leaders, who have also accused his government of widespread corruption and bad
governance.
The
former first lady was charged by an investigating judge on Thursday, prosecutor
Andre Patrick Roponat announced on state TV channels on Friday. Her house
arrest order has also been upheld, Roponat said.
One
of her lawyers said earlier this month that she was being kept “incommunicado
outside any legal framework”.
The
Bongos’ son, Noureddin, has already been charged with corruption and embezzling
public funds with several former cabinet members and two ex-ministers.
Ali
Bongo took over when his father Omar died in 2009 after nearly 42 years in
power. Now 64, Bongo ruled the country until his overthrow this August after
the presidential election.
The
election result was branded a fraud by the opposition and the military coup
leaders, who have also accused his government of widespread corruption and bad
governance.