Pascaline Bongo was on the stand this Wednesday at the Paris court. The sister of former Gabonese President Ali Bongo is accused of passive bribery of a foreign public official. She is suspected of having received 8 million euros to help the French company Egis Route win public contracts in Gabon. Markets which were ultimately not won. In court, she denied any hidden commission.
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Always as elegant, with her black ensemble and her hair wrapped in a large blue turban, Pascaline Bongo first recounted her studies, her positions as minister and then as chief of staff to her father Omar Bongo until his death.
This was followed by her ostracization by her brother Ali, the new president, who appointed her High Representative. “ It was an honorary position. I had zero missions. Not even a note. I couldn’t just sit there and do something that didn’t make sense, I had to do something else. “, she said. On a siding, she therefore converted to business, activating her company Sift.
A partnership with Egis Route is being discussed. The French company wanted to win the contract for the future Major Works Agency. “ I wanted to stay in the private sector, because the Gabonese state is a bad payer, I know that well “, she indicated. “ But Egis, their business is roads and public markets “, retorted the judge. “ There was a huge misunderstanding. I wanted private, and my mind was elsewhere, because I was managing my father’s estate at that time », replied Pascaline Bongo.
The former minister then crossed swords with the prosecution, denying, arguing, retorting. “ It’s the prosecutor who asks the questions “, the judge had to remind him. Faced with questions about her company without employees, offices or activities, she sometimes refused to answer, in an annoyed tone. “ I’m sorry if you don’t believe me », she exclaimed at the end of the hearing.
This Thursday will be the last day of hearing, we will hear in particular the indictments. The judgment is not expected for several weeks.
I found that this woman had great sincerity, great dignity, and that she explained herself in her own way and agreed to play the game.
Me Corinne Dreyfus-Schmidt, lawyer for Pascaline Bongo
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