A senior government official in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzlement.
The conviction comes months after he gained notoriety when sex tapes involving him and the wives of other officials were leaked, drawing widespread attention and scandal in the country.
The Bioko provincial tribunal ruled that Engonga misappropriated funds he had claimed as professional travel expenses for personal use.
Hilario Mitogo, the press director of the Supreme Court, confirmed the verdict in a WhatsApp message to reporters, highlighting the court’s stance on corruption among high-ranking officials.
Engonga, who is married, formerly led the national financial investigation agency, a key institution in the country tasked with monitoring financial crimes.
His position had placed him at the center of national financial oversight, making the allegations particularly significant.
Alongside Engonga, five other senior officials were implicated in the embezzlement case.
The group was accused of diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for official travel and administrative purposes, reflecting broader concerns about financial misconduct within the government of the oil-rich central African state.
The case has underscored Equatorial Guinea’s ongoing struggles with corruption and public accountability.
While the leaked sex tapes initially brought Engonga into the spotlight for personal scandal, it is his financial crimes that have now led to legal consequences, sending a strong message about the government’s efforts to hold officials accountable for misuse of public funds.
