September 29, (THEWILL) – The wife of Gabon’s ousted president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, has been charged with “money laundering” and other offences, the public prosecutor said on Friday.
Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, who is Franco-Gabonese, and one of the couple’s sons, has been accused by the coup leader of having pulled the strings in the oil-rich country.
She was charged by an investigating judge on Thursday, and ordered to remain under house arrest, Andre Patrick Roponat announced on state TV channels. She also faces other charges including concealment and forgery, he said.
Bongo, 64, who had ruled the central African country since 2009, was overthrown by military leaders on August 30, moments after being proclaimed the winner in a presidential election.
The former First Lady has been under house arrest in the capital Libreville since the coup on August 30. She has been isolated from her husband and her French lawyers have filed a complaint in Paris against what they said “appears to be a hostage-taking”
In a speech to the Republican Guard this month, Junta leader, Brice Oligui Nguema, accused the former “First Lady” and Noureddin of having “squandered” the president’s power.
“Because since his stroke, they have falsified the signature of the president, they gave orders in his place,” he said.
Bongo, who was himself under house arrest for several days after the coup, is “free to move around” and go abroad, Gabon’s new military ruler, General Brice Oligui Nguema, said a week after the coup.
The eldest son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, was indicted earlier this month and placed in provisional detention for alleged corruption.
Noureddin was charged with corruption and embezzling public funds with several former cabinet members and two ex-ministers
In all, 10 people were indicted on charges ranging from electoral college operational issues, counterfeiting and use of the seals of the republic, to corruption, embezzlement of public funds and money laundering, Roponat had told a press conference.
Seven, including Noureddin Bongo, were detained. Two former ministers for oil and public works have also been detained.
