October 11, (THEWILL) – Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, the wife of Gabon’s deposed president Ali Bongo Ondimba, has been jailed for money laundering.
Sylv, suspected of allegedly embezzling public funds, was jailed late on Wednesday, her lawyer, Francois Zimeray, said on Thursday.
She was charged on September 28 with money laundering, forgery and falsification of records.
According to Gabonese media reports, she was taken into custody at a prison in the capital Libreville following a long hearing in front of a judge.
The 60-year-old has been placed under house arrest in the capital, Libreville, since the August 30 coup brought the curtain down on 55 years of Bongo dynasty rule.
In a speech to the Republican Guard this month, Junta leader, Brice Oligui Nguema, accused the former “First Lady” and her son, Nourredin Bongo Valentin, 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
Noureddin had been indicted earlier and placed in provisional detention for alleged corruption.
