The wife and son of former Gabonese president Ali Bongo were convicted of embezzling public funds and handed 20-year prison sentences in absentia on Tuesday night.
Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and Noureddin Bongo Valentin faced trial this week before a special criminal court on multiple corruption charges.
The court found the former first lady guilty of money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, and incitement to forgery.
Noureddin Bongo Valentin was also convicted of extortion, theft of titles and positions, aggravated money laundering, and criminal conspiracy.
Both were fined 100 million CFA francs (approximately €152,000).
“I have never embezzled money and I will continue to fight for the truth before independent legal authorities,” Noureddin Bongo Valentin said on X following the verdict.
The public prosecutor had sought the 20-year sentence for Sylvia and Noureddin, describing their actions as a systematic capture of public resources “for private interests.”
The former first lady and the president’s son were arrested in August 2023 following the coup that ended the Bongo family’s 55-year rule. They spent about 20 months in detention before being released last May and are now living in exile in London.
They have denounced the trial as politically motivated and refused to appear in court, with their lawyers also absent during the proceedings.
