Baltasar Engonga Ebang, former Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), is currently on trial for multiple corruption-related charges, with state prosecutors pushing for a combined 18-year prison sentence and a nearly one billion CFA franc fine.
Engonga is being prosecuted for alleged mismanagement of a public enterprise under the Ministry of Finance. According to the charges, he is accused of embezzling state funds, illicit enrichment, and abuse of power during his tenure.
The prosecution has outlined the following sentencing requests:
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8 years for embezzlement
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4 years and 5 months for illicit enrichment
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6 years and 1 day for abuse of power
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A fine of 910 million CFA francs
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A ban on holding any public office during his sentence
His legal team has rejected all allegations, describing the charges as baseless and politically motivated. The trial, which began on Monday, is expected to run for three days and also includes other officials from the same institution, raising broader concerns about corruption within the public sector.
This is not the first time Engonga has been at the center of controversy. In November last year, his name surfaced in a sensational scandal after authorities uncovered more than 400 video recordings during a separate fraud investigation. The footage allegedly showed Engonga in intimate encounters with the wives of high-ranking officials, including ministers.
The materials were reportedly discovered during a surprise raid on his home and office, sparking outrage and prompting swift disciplinary action from the government.
In response, Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue announced the suspension of several public officials implicated in misconduct, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to uphold ethical standards.
He stated that any behavior undermining the integrity of public office violates the country’s Code of Conduct and the Public Ethics Law. The vice president underscored the government’s “zero tolerance” policy for officials who breach public trust.
Hoy vamos a procéder a la suspensión inmediata de todos los funcionarios que han tenido relaciones sexuales en las oficinas de los ministerios del país. El Gobierno tomará medidas severas ante estos actos, puesto que constituye una violación flagrante del Código de Conducta y la…
— teddy nguema (@teonguema) November 4, 2024
Equatorial Guinea’s GENERAL REGULATION ON LABOUR
