The arrests of former ministers of Ali Bongo’s power overthrown by a coup continue. After the former First Lady Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, her son Noureddin Valentin Bongo and other close collaborators of the former head of state, the military does not intend to stop there. Several sources announce the arrest of the former powerful Minister of Water and Forests, Lee White.
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With our correspondent in Libreville, Yves Laurent Goma
The arrest of Lee White was confirmed by a judicial source and the National Union of Water and Forestry Professionals (Synapef). The former minister was arrested by elements of the General Directorate of Research. Another source specified that he was summoned for investigation before being released late Monday afternoon.
Lee White, very close to former president Ali Bongo, must answer charges of complicity in selling off forests. According to Synapef, it would have allocated two permits, one of which covers an area of 57,000 hectares and 97,000 hectares for the second while the ceiling of a permit is 50,000 hectares according to the Gabonese Forest Code. The minister would also be prosecuted for embezzlement.
He is not the only Ali Bongo minister worried since the army took power on August 30. The former Minister of Oil, Vincent de Paul Massassa, and his former colleague from Public Works, Léon Armel Bounda Balonzi, were presented to the prosecution on Friday.