Former Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts Pascal Ogowe Siffon was remanded in custody and imprisoned in Libreville’s central prison, known as the “Sans Famille” (Without Family) prison.,
This followed a judicial hearing lasting over twenty hours, according to the Gabonese Press Agency.
Arriving at the Libreville courthouse at 4:00pm on Wednesday, the former government official left at 2:00pm under heavy escort to be taken to prison, where he will remain detained pending further legal proceedings.
According to judicial sources, Pascal Ogow” Siffon is suspected of embezzling public funds estimated at over 10 billion CFA francs, initially intended for the development and promotion of the tourism sector.
The funds in question reportedly came from public funds, dividends from hotels requisitioned by the state, and provisions for diversified investments. Before his arrest, he had already been detained and placed under house arrest while still in office.
In total, sixteen people, including several members of his staff, are implicated in the case. Major irregularities have reportedly been uncovered in the management of resources allocated to the recovery of the tourism industry, a strategic sector for diversifying the national economy.
The Pascal Ogowe Siffon case is part of a broader spectrum in Gabon where political figures have already been accused or prosecuted for embezzlement.
DM/ac/fss/as/APA