By James Tasamba
KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Sylvia Bongo, the wife of Gabon’s ousted President Ali Bongo, has been detained pending trial, local media reported Thursday, citing judicial sources.
The former first lady was detained on Wednesday after an “appearance before an investigating judge,” according to the GabonActu news portal.
It said she is accused of “embezzlement of public funds and money laundering” and was arrested and taken to the central prison of Libreville.
Several officials from the deposed Gabonese president's government, including Noureddin Bongo, the eldest son of the ousted president, were last month detained on charges of “high treason and massive embezzlement of public funds.”
A group of senior Gabonese army officers announced they had seized power on Aug. 30, and put former President Ali Bongo under house arrest.
The move came shortly after the Gabonese Election Center confirmed that incumbent President Ali Bongo officially won a third presidential term with 64.27% of the vote.
In the aftermath of the coup, military authorities announced Sylvia Bongo was put under house arrest in Libreville “for her protection.”