Sylvia Bongo's graft trial opens with Gabon's ex-first lady in exile

Sylvia Bongo, whose husband was ousted as Gabon's leader in a 2023 coup, went on trial for graft on Monday, with the exiled former first lady the highest-profile absentee.

Bongo, the 62-year-old wife of Ali Bongo, whose family ruled the central African country with an iron fist for 55 years, is accused of manipulating her husband to embezzle taxpayers' money from the small oil-rich state.

She denies all the charges. Her son and co-defendant, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, criticised the trial as a "legal farce" in an interview with AFP on Friday.

Both allege having suffered torture during the 20 months they spent in detention following the August 30, 2023 coup which brought General Brice Oligui Nguema to power.

Monday's proceedings at the Court of Appeal in the capital Libreville went ahead without the Bongos, who were allowed to leave Gabon for London after being granted conditional bail in May, officially on medical grounds.

"We know full well that if we go back, we will suffer things far worse than what we have already endured," Noureddin Bongo, 33, told AFP.

Just nine of the 12 defendants, all close Bongo allies, were present in the courtroom for the trial, which attracted dozens of passers-by curious about the high-profile proceedings.

Deposed president Ali Bongo, who succeeded his father Omar when the latter died in 2009 after 41 years in power, is not facing prosecution.

His wife and son are accused of exploiting the former leader, who suffered a serious stroke in 2018, to effectively run Gabon for their own personal profit.

"We are surprised not to see them this morning," Gabonese state prosecutor Eddy Minang said to the court.

In May 2024, Sylvia and Noureddin Bongo filed a lawsuit in France, where they all hold citizenship, alleging that they were "repeatedly and violently tortured" by Oligui's closest army allies while in detention.

The family also claims the new authorities have leant on the courts to find them guilty.

Oligui, who was officially sworn in as president in April after handing in his general's uniform, has denied there was any form of torture and promised that both would have a "fair trial".