The son of Ali Bongo and other associates of the ousted President of Gabon are in custody after being charged with high treason and corruption.
State prosecutor Andre-Patrick Roponat said Bongo’s eldest son Noureddin Bongo Valentin, and former presidential spokesman Jessye Ella Ekogha, as well as four others, “have been charged and placed in provisional detention”, France 24 reports.
The range of charges included high treason against state institutions, massive misappropriation of public funds, forgery of the president’s signature, corruption, and even drug trafficking.
Ali Bongo’s leadership which spanned from 2009 was truncated by military leaders on August 30, moments after he was pronounced the winner of the presidential election.
He was declared the winner with just under 60% of the vote, and the outcome was criticised by the opposition and the coup plotters and branded as a fraud.
Bongo’s sons, five senior cabinet officials and his wife Sylvia Bongo Valentin were all arrested on the same day of the coup by soldiers.
