Ousted Gabon leader's wife and son sentenced to 20 years for graft

Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba, and First Lady Sylvia Bongo, arrive at the White House for a group dinner during the US Africa Leaders Summit on August 5, 2014 in Washington, DC. [AFP]

A Gabon court on Wednesday sentenced the former first lady and son of the oil-rich country's deposed leader Ali Bongo to 20 years in prison following a two-day graft trial.

Sylvia Bongo, 62, and Noureddin Bongo, 33, both tried in absentia, were found guilty of embezzlement of public funds, among other charges.