Baltasar Engonga, the former director-general of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, is on trial for corruption in Malabo and could get a sentence of up to 18 years in jail.
According to reports, Engonga, the former head of his nation’s anti-graft organization, was recently involved in a scandal that rocked the political establishment.
Engonga is on trial for misappropriation of public funds, illicit enrichment, and abuse of power while serving as head of the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance from 2015 to 2020. He has been remanded in the notorious Black Beach Prison since September 2024.
The national prosecutor asked for an 18-year total sentence for the troubled former official during Monday’s hearing:
For embezzlement, eight years
For illegal enrichment, four years and five months
6 years, 1 day for misusing the position
In addition, Engonga will be prohibited from holding public office for the duration of his sentence and fined more than 910 million CFA francs, or roughly $1.5 million or ₦2.2 billion.
Prosecutors said that Engonga was the mastermind of an intricate financial plan that embezzled public cash for private benefit, crippling vital public sector development.
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Equatorial Guinea Was Rocked by the Engonga Sex Tape Scandal
According to Naija News, authorities discovered more than 400 sex films during raids on Engonga’s private office and residence a few months ago, in a startling turn of events that captured the public’s interest.
Le Bled Parle claims that the tapes include the spouses of high government officials, security chiefs, and senior ministers. The movies, which were taken with authorization, were found on CDs and hard drives, according to authorities. Many of these videos have already leaked online, causing public indignation and requests for more research.
Engonga is not the only one in the courtroom. Six other former high-ranking officials, such as Carmelo Julio Matogo Ndong and Florentina Iganga Iñandji, are also on trial for allegedly being part of a large-scale graft syndicate that embezzled public funds.
The trial, which has captured the attention of both domestic and foreign watchers, is anticipated to go on all week as defense attorneys start making their case.
The government of Equatorial Guinea is under increased pressure as a result of this case to fortify its anti-corruption policies, guarantee increased transparency, and hold all officials—regardless of rank—responsible.
Civil society organizations and residents are keenly monitoring the proceedings, calling for justice to be done and a permanent solution to the nation’s lengthy history of financial mismanagement.
