Name: Gabon: Sylvia Bongo sentenced to 20 years in jail for embezzlement
Uploaded: 2025-11-12T10:17:14.912Z
Duration: 1 min 13 s
Description: The former first lady of Gabon and her son were being tried in absentia on various corruption charges.

The former first lady of Gabon and her son were being tried in absentia on various corruption charges.

Libreville

A special criminal court in Gabon has sentenced Sylvia Bongo-Ndimba, the wife of former President Ali Bongo, and her son Nouradine Bongo-Valentin to 20 years in prison in absentia for embezzlement of public funds and other corruption-related charges. Both were also fined 100 million CFA francs, equivalent to approximately 152,000 euros.

The convictions follow their arrest after the August 2023 coup that ended the Bongo family's 55-year rule. The pair, currently in exile in London, did not appear in court and have denounced the proceedings as politically motivated, with their lawyers also absent from the trial.

Gabon: Sylvia Bongo sentenced to 20 years in jail for embezzlement

The wife and son of former Gabonese President Ali Bongo were found guilty of embezzlement of public funds and sentenced to 20 years in prison in absentia. Sylvia Bongo-Ndimba and Nouradine Bongo-Valentin were being tried this week before a special criminal court on various corruption charges. The president's son was also convicted of extortion, theft of titles and positions, aggravated money laundering and criminal conspiracy. The court also declared the former first lady guilty of money laundering, misappropriation of funds and incitement to forgery. Both were sentenced to a fine of 100 million CFR francs, about 152,000 euros. The public prosecutor had requested the 20-year sentence against Sylvia and Nouradine Bongo for what he described as a system designed to capture public money for private interests. The wife and son of deposed President Ali Bongo were arrested in August 2023 after the coup that put an end to the 55-year rule of the Bongo family. They spent about 20 months in detention until they were released last May and are currently in exile in London. They have denounced the political trial and have refused to appear in court. Their lawyers were also absent from the trial.

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