Ex-Equatorial Guinea Anti-Graft Chief Baltasar Ebang Engonga Sentenced to 8 Years, Fined US$220,000
Following accusations of embezzlement, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a well-known and highly scandalised former official in Equatorial Guinea, was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay a $220,000 fine. This decision represents a sharp decline in the once-dominant anti-corruption czar’s popularity.
Ex-Equatorial Guinea Anti-Graft Chief Baltasar Ebang Engonga Sentenced to 8 Years, Fined US$220,000
Engonga was found guilty by the Bioko Provincial Court in Malabo of misappropriating public cash meant for official travel while fabricating large allowances for personal benefit. According to authorities, he and five other government personnel embezzled between US$9,000 and US$220,000.
Hilario Mitogo, spokesman for the Supreme Court, confirmed:
“In addition to the jail sentence, Engonga was fined US$220,000 by the tribunal.”
Engonga, also called “Bello,” was once a rising star in the government. He was President Teodoro Obiang Nguema’s powerful nephew and the head of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), which was charged with looking into financial crimes and money laundering.
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However, when hundreds of private films appeared online in late 2024, his reputation was irreversibly ruined. These films, which were purportedly made in his office and featured several women, including family members of high-ranking government officials, went viral and threw him into an unparalleled controversy.
Although the tapes’ veracity was never established, many believe they were released while his gadgets were being held, perhaps in an effort to damage his reputation during political squabbling.
Engonga was considered to have presidential aspirations prior to his demise. The timing of the embezzlement allegations and the sex tape controversy, according to analysts, may have been politically driven, emerging during internal succession disputes within the long-running Obiang dictatorship.
After being removed from office by presidential decree in November 2024, Engonga was arrested and accused of unlawful gain in addition to embezzlement and corruption. Given the severity of the alleged financial malfeasance, prosecutors first requested an 18-year sentence.
Civil society and anti-corruption activists have praised the decision, seeing it as a unique example of accountability for a member of the political elite.
The government’s resolve to fight corruption and uphold the honour of public institutions is demonstrated by this decision. “No official is above the law, regardless of rank,” a Ministry of Justice representative stated.
In the meantime, campaigners have referred to this as a turning point in Equatorial Guinea’s administration, highlighting the dangers of unbridled authority and the pressing need for institutional reform.
Engonga is currently incarcerated at Malabo’s Black Beach Prison, which is well-known for its unforgiving conditions. According to reports, he will probably serve the entire eight years unless he receives a presidential pardon, which is extremely unlikely considering how well-known his case is.
Baltasar Ebang Engonga’s journey from a well-respected professional to a convicted criminal is remarkable: he was once a strong anti-corruption leader who was overthrown by accusations of corruption and public scandal. His case serves as a warning and an illustration that anyone can suffer the repercussions of misusing public trust in the right situation.
