A senior official in Equatorial Guinea and nephew of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has been sentenced to eight years in prison following a high-profile corruption case intertwined with a sensational sex tape scandal.
Baltasar Ebang Engonga, widely known by his nickname “Bello,” formerly served as the head of the National Financial Investigation Agency. A court ruled that he diverted public funds for personal use, including depositing large sums in secret offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands. Alongside five other officials, Engonga was convicted of misappropriating funds under the guise of travel allowances, with amounts ranging between $9,000 and $220,000.
The tribunal also imposed a $220,000 fine on Engonga, according to Supreme Court press director Hilario Mitogo, who communicated the verdict through AFP.
Engonga, previously tasked with probing money laundering and financial crimes, was arrested last October. His downfall was accelerated by the circulation of dozens of leaked sex videos last year, which showed him with multiple women, some of whom were reportedly relatives or spouses of powerful political figures. The footage went viral while he was already in custody, raising suspicions of a deliberate smear campaign.
The timing of the leak, coinciding with his detention, fueled speculation that the material was disseminated by elements within the security services, who had seized his phones and computers. The authenticity of the videos was never independently confirmed, but their release tarnished Engonga’s image and further undermined his political prospects.
His arrest and subsequent humiliation have been widely interpreted as part of internal power struggles within the ruling elite. President Obiang, the world’s longest-serving head of state, has held power since 1979 and positioned his son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, as vice-president and likely successor.
Observers suggest Engonga’s growing prominence had made him a potential contender for leadership, a possibility abruptly curtailed by his conviction. His incarceration at Malabo’s notorious Black Beach prison, known for its harsh conditions, marks a dramatic fall from grace for a man once seen as an influential figure in the oil-rich nation.
The case underscores the ongoing entanglement of corruption, power, and personal scandal in Equatorial Guinea’s political landscape.
