Baltasar Engonga, a controversial former government official in Equatorial Guinea, is facing a potential 18-year prison sentence following his appearance in a Malabo court on Monday, June 30, for a corruption trial. The 54-year-old economist by profession, is at the centre of a wide-ranging investigation into alleged embezzlement of public funds.
Engonga’s case has drawn significant attention not only for the serious corruption charges but also due to the alleged discovery of over 400 sex tapes involving him and high-profile women during the fraud investigation.
These tapes, reportedly found on CDs in his house and office, are said to feature wives of notable figures in the country, including relatives of the President, police officials, and approximately 20 ministers’ wives.
The footage, reportedly consensual at the time of recording, has since been leaked online, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings.
Engonga has been held at the notorious Black Beach Prison since September 2024, following the initiation of the corruption probe.
In court, prosecutors detailed what they described as a sophisticated scheme to divert public funds for personal gain, allegedly coordinated by Engonga during his tenure as head of the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance from 2015 to 2020.
The state prosecutor has called for a severe cumulative punishment for Engonga: eight years for embezzling public funds, four years and five months for unlawful enrichment, and six years and one day for abuse of power.
Additionally, the prosecution seeks a hefty fine of over 910 million CFA francs (approximately $1.5 million), equivalent to about KSh 193.6 million, and a permanent ban from holding public office.
Six other former senior government officials, including Carmelo Julio Matogo Ndong, Ireneo Mangue Monsuy Afana, and Florentina Iganga Iñandji, are also being prosecuted as part of what authorities describe as a vast network of financial corruption. The trial is expected to continue with defence attorneys presenting their arguments.
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