Overview
- The Court of Appeal in Libreville found Sylvia, 62, and Noureddin, 33, guilty of embezzlement of public funds and related offenses after a two-day hearing.
- Both were tried in absentia and each was sentenced to 20 years, having left for London in May on conditional medical bail after about 20 months in custody.
- Ten former allies are being tried for alleged complicity in the diversion of state funds, with hearings scheduled to continue until Friday.
- Prosecutors argue testimony exposed a system that siphoned public money for private interests, while the defense denounces a "legal farce."
- The pair, who also hold French citizenship, have filed a torture complaint in France over their post-coup detention, and ex-president Ali Bongo is not being prosecuted in the case.