Gabon’s deposed president’s son, former officials jailed on ‘high treason’ charges: Reports

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Several officials of the ousted Gabonese president's government, including his son, have been charged and detained in the national capital, Libreville, media reports said Wednesday.

They include deposed President Ali Bongo's son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin; former special adviser and spokesperson for the presidency; Jessye Ella Ekogha, Mohamed Aliou Saliou, Bongo’s former deputy chief of staff and others, according to the gabonactu news portal.

Indictments were handed down late Tuesday and they were remanded in custody.

The Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), which was created in the aftermath of the coup, suspected those who were detained of “high treason, massive embezzlement of public funds, financial embezzlement in an organized gang, forgery and use of forgery, falsification of the signature of the President of the Republic, active corruption and drug trafficking,” said gabonactu, citing the public prosecutor.

The detentions came days after they appeared before the public prosecutor who ordered an investigation.

A group of senior Gabonese army officers appeared on national television Aug. 30 and announced they had seized power and put President Ali Bongo under house arrest.

The move came shortly after the Gabonese Election Center confirmed Bongo officially won a third term as president with 64.27% of the vote.

The military arrested one of the sons of the deposed president and other senior officials from the office of the former president.

Bongo’s wife. Sylvia Bongo Valentin, was also put under house arrest in Libreville “for her protection” according to the presidency.

Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema, former commander of the Republican Guard, was sworn in Sept. 4 as transitional president.

He has since allowed Bongo to travel abroad for medical checkups if he wishes.