Scandal-Hit Baltasar Ebang Engonga Handed 8-Year Sentence And US$220,000 Fine
Baltasar Ebang Engonga, who gained worldwide notoriety after being embroiled in a sex tape scandal in 2023, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzlement and ordered to pay a fine of US$220,000 (R4.1 million).
Court Ruling
The former head of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency was found guilty of diverting public funds for personal use. A court in Malabo ruled that Engonga, along with five other officials, had falsely claimed large sums of money as travel allowances.
According to the AFP news agency, Supreme Court press director Hilario Mitogo confirmed the sentencing and fine.
“As well as issuing a jail sentence, the tribunal also fined Engonga US$220,000,” Mitogo was quoted as saying.
The misappropriated amounts reportedly ranged between US$9,000 (R168,000) and US$220,000 (R4.1 million).
The Scandal That Rocked Equatorial Guinea
Engonga, often referred to by his nickname “Bello” because of his looks, became the subject of international headlines in 2023 when a series of intimate videos appeared online. The videos allegedly showed him with multiple women, including wives and relatives of powerful figures in the country.
The videos leaked shortly after his arrest in October 2023, when he was accused of moving embezzled funds into offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands.
The BBC reported that the recordings surfaced while Engonga’s phones and computers were in the custody of security forces.
“The authenticity of the videos was never verified, but as the computer equipment was in the hands of the security forces, suspicion fell on someone there leaking it, perhaps to trash Engonga’s reputation,” the BBC noted.
A Career Brought Down
Before his downfall, Engonga was seen as a rising figure with presidential ambitions. He once held the powerful position of leading investigations into money laundering and financial crimes.
His arrest and the sex tape scandal were widely viewed as a major blow to his future in politics. Analysts pointed out that the timing of the leaks appeared to coincide with internal struggles over succession in Equatorial Guinea.
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Engonga’s uncle, has ruled the country since 1979, making him the world’s longest-serving head of state. His son, Teodoro Obiang Mangue, currently serves as vice-president.
Engonga is now serving his sentence at Black Beach prison in Malabo, a facility known for its harsh conditions.
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