Gabon: Former Parliament Speaker charged with multiple crimes

A court in Gabon has found former Speaker of the parliament and opposition figure Guy Nzouba-Ndama guilty of money laundering and espionage for a foreign country after he was arrested with around $2 million upon return from a trip to neighboring Congo Brazzaville, accused of alleged support for the opposition, Gabon Review reports.

Arrested Saturday at border between the two countries with the sum found in two suitcases, the leader of Les Democrates party has been transferred to capital Libreville for hearing.

The public prosecutor ordered to put him under house arrest and charged him with money laundering and espionage for a foreign country.

The party said the custom officers who arrested the former Speaker of the national assembly indicated that they had received instruction to detain the former ally of incumbent President Ali Bongo.

“The party is now holding those who gave the orders responsible. The Democrats, who reserve the right to react vigorously, through various actions, against any possible conviction, demand the immediate and unconditional release of President Guy Nzouba Ndama,” honorary president of the party, Dr. Séraphin Akuré-Davin said in a statement.

Bongo and Ndama fell out in 2016. Former education minister was a candidate for then elections but bowed out in favor of the former opposition leader Jean Ping.

Ndama’s trip to Congo Brazzaville came as the central African country gears up for presidential elections. His party put him on its ticket for elections.

Some voices in Gabon have accused Congo Brazzaville authorities of sponsoring the opposition.