Open fifteen years ago, the investigation into the « poorly acquired property » of the Bongo family in France is over – Liberation

A sprawling storyfifteen years of instruction, and twenty-four indicted, including a deceased person. The investigating judge responsible for The survey opened in 2010 on Gabonese goods fraudulently acquired In France noted this Friday, April 4, the end of investigations, in which eleven descendants of Omar Bongo, the former President of the Gabonese Republic, but also BNP Paribas are targeted. A judicial source confirmed this information learned from a source close to the file on Friday. It is now up to the National Financial Public Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) to take its requisitions before the final decision of the instructor magistrate on the possible holding of a trial. Among the personalities implicated: Pascaline, older girl from Omar Bongo And her ex-cabinet-director, ex-Miss France Sonia Rolland, a notary, a lawyer or several real estate companies. The Gabonese state has obtained to be a civil party.

In this abundant file, several members of the Bongo family are suspected of having benefited from a major real estate assets « Fraudulently » acquired and evaluated by justice « At 85 million euros ». Goods would have been obtained Thanks to Françafrique moneypowerful system of corruption, political cooptation and commercial keys between Paris and its former colonies on the continent, which notably gave rise to the ELF affair in France. This vast politico-financial scandal of the 1990s had revealed an impressive network of corruption mixing politicians and great bosses. The instruction had been led by the ecologist Eva Joly.

According to elements of the survey obtained by AFP, French justice considers that Omar Bongo has given a Gabonese company, workshop 74, at least 52 million euros in cash to carry out real estate acquisitions and repair work. The money then passed on to the French account of this company. In August 2023, the reversal by soldiers President Ali Bongo Ondimbason of Omar Bongo, came to question his immunity as a head of state and threaten him to be prosecuted. « He is not indicted at this stage »said the judicial source to AFP. But the debate on the indictment of the one who, according to justice, « Know the fraudulent origin of his father’s fortune » could be settled by the PNF and the investigating judge during the closing of investigations. According to two sources close to the file, his immunity could still be chosen.

In total, around 70 million euros in goods were seized, indicated at the end of 2023 a judicial source, in particular properties in posh corners of Paris, in Provence or on the Côte d’Azur. BNP Paribas was charged in May 2021 for « At least 35 million euros » alleged whitening. In interrogation, she had recognized « Carences » But disputed everything « Fraudulent design ». The ex-Miss France 2000, Sonia Rolland, has been continued since May 2022 to conceal in the whitening of embezzlement of public funds, for having received in 2003 a Parisian apartment from Edith Bongo, wife of Omar Bongo.

In defense, several of these descendants challenged to know the fraudulent origin of the funds, or argued by their young age at the time of the acquisition of goods. « We are certain that the entire Bongo clan and its French providers will be judged, there will be a trial, we can hope for by 2026 », reacted Me William Bourdon, lawyer for the Transparency International anti -corruption association, at the origin of this procedure via a complaint in May 2007. In July 2021, the French Parliament had voted a restitution system to the populations of assets seized in the affairs of poorly acquired goods.