Highlights: Former Gabonese minister is being prosecuted for passive corruption of foreign agents. She is accused of having used her influence to help the French company Egis win public contracts. The prosecutor demanded three years in prison, including one year and a fine of 150,000 euros against Pascaline Bongo. All the defense lawyers pleaded for acquittal. The case is now in the hands of the judge who will deliver her decision on April 22. The defense pointed out these weaknesses. The Sift-Egis partnership was relevant and sincere.

The former Gabonese minister is being prosecuted for passive corruption of foreign agents. She is accused of having, in exchange for 8 million euros, used her influence to help the French company…

Gabon: prison sentence required against Pascaline Bongo, suspected of passive corruption

The former Gabonese minister is being prosecuted for passive corruption of foreign agents. She is accused of having, in exchange for 8 million euros, used her influence to help the French company Egis win public contracts.

Pascaline Bongo, sister of deposed Gabonese president Ali Bongo, upon her arrival at court on January 29, 2024 in Paris. © Sébastien Nemeth / RFI

By: RFI Follow

After four days of trial, the public prosecutor's requisitions had the effect of a cold shower. “

Fictitious contract

”. “

Concealment

”. “

Breach of economic public order

”: the prosecutor denounced what he calls a “

corruption pact

” between Pascaline Bongo and Egis Route. “

She used her quality to monetize her powers. She failed in her duties of integrity and probity attached to her position

,” declared the prosecutor. He demanded three years in prison, including one year and a fine of 150,000 euros against Pascaline Bongo.

“

Only one word comes to mind: politics!

» replied Me Labrousse. This defense lawyer denounced “

blindness

”, “

a file empty of evidence

”. “

It shocks me

,” he proclaimed. The ten lawyers present all pleaded for acquittal. Me Dreyfus-Schmidt, who defends Pascaline Bongo, violently attacked the investigators. Denouncing “

fictitious accusations

”, “

an artificial construction to try to make a case stick

”. “

I have rarely seen a file with such an accumulation of flaws and deficiencies

,” she denounced, “

we cannot ask for such severe sentences on the basis of nothingness

.” Concluding: “

I cannot imagine that the court will convict. Or it is for other reasons which are not legal or factual reasons.

The defense pointed out these weaknesses. The Sift-Egis partnership was relevant and sincere. Pascaline Bongo wanted to retrain in business. She no longer had political influence. Finally, there is no material evidence of corruption, or even of a payment of money.

The prosecutor also requested a two to three year suspended sentence for the other defendants, in particular Franck Ping, son of former minister Jean Ping, and for the three directors of Egis Route accused. “

It’s a little hard to take,”

reacted the commercial director, Christian Laugier.

We will wait for the judgment, I have confidence in French justice. We haven't hidden anything about this affair. It is a partnership between two companies who want to pool human resources to carry out a project. It stopped at stages of intention. There was no flow of money and when I see the harshness of the sentences requested by the PNF

[national financial prosecutor's office, Editor's note],

I am shocked.

Each accused was able to say a word. Pascaline Bongo simply thanked the court, adding that she had learned a lot from French justice. The judgment is expected on April 22.

All the defense lawyers pleaded for acquittal. The case is now in the hands of the judge who will deliver her decision on April 22.

Gabon: prison sentence required against Pascaline Bongo, suspected of passive corruption

Gabon: prison sentence required against Pascaline Bongo, suspected of passive corruption

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