Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, spouse of former Gabonese President Ali Bongo, faces scrutiny over suspicions of transferring substantial funds, potentially millions, to a Geneva bank, allegedly stemming from the misappropriation of public assets.

Authorities in Geneva are actively investigating the former Gabonese first lady. Swiss judicial bodies commenced an inquiry in 2023 into an alleged money laundering operation targeting Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, wife of the ousted Gabonese president, Ali Bongo.

An ongoing money laundering investigation is confirmed to be underway within the Geneva Public Prosecutor’s Office.

As part of this legal process, Swiss authorities sought collaborative assistance from Gabon. While Libreville did not directly respond to this mutual legal assistance request, the Gabonese State subsequently registered itself as a civil party before the Geneva judiciary. Sylvia Bongo challenged this move, but the Geneva Criminal Appeals Chamber upheld Gabon’s right to participate in the proceedings in late May.

This investigation unfolds as Sylvia Bongo has already received a twenty-year prison sentence in absentia in Gabon for charges related to embezzlement.