According to her attorney, the spouse of Gabon’s ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba, who had been placed under house arrest since a coup in late August in the central African nation, has now been imprisoned.
Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, who is suspected of purportedly misappropriating public funds, was incarcerated late on Wednesday, as stated by her lawyer Francois Zimeray. He strongly criticized the “arbitrary and illegal procedure” surrounding her detention.
On September 28, Bongo’s spouse faced charges of money laundering, forgery, and falsification of records.
Sylvia Bongo has been placed under house arrest in the capital city of Libreville since the August 30 coup marked the end of the 55-year Bongo dynasty rule.
The coup leaders claim that the ex-president and his associates manipulated the election results.
They level accusations against Sylvia Bongo and her son, Nourredin Bongo Valentin, of exerting undue influence on the former president, who has not completely recuperated from a severe stroke in 2018.
They assert that the two have essentially governed the oil-rich nation over the last five years and have mishandled public funds.
Nourredin Bongo Valentin has been in custody since the coup, facing corruption charges.
“We condemned this illegal procedure,” lawyer Zimeray said.
“There is a difference between justice and arbitrary actions, between the law and revenge.”
The public prosecutor in Libreville has not issued a response to a media request for comment as of now.
Bongo, aged 64, who had held power in the central African nation since 2009, was ousted by military leaders immediately after being declared the victor in a presidential election.
Many saw it as an act of liberation rather than a military coup.
Ali Bongo assumed office following his father Omar’s passing in 2009, after Omar had ruled for nearly 42 years.
