In a trial shaking the political foundations of Equatorial Guinea, former Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency, Baltasar Engonga, is facing an 18-year prison sentence for alleged embezzlement of public funds — amid a swirling sex tape scandal involving hundreds of high-profile women.
Engonga, a 54-year-old economist, was arraigned before a court in Malabo on Monday, following months of detention at the notorious Black Beach Prison. His arrest in September 2024 stemmed from a sweeping anti-corruption probe — though the scandal took a darker turn after investigators uncovered over 400 sexually explicit videos in his office and private residence.
According to court documents and prosecutors’ statements, Engonga is accused of coordinating a sophisticated scheme to siphon public funds during his tenure as head of the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance between 2015 and 2020. The prosecution has demanded steep penalties: eight years for embezzlement, four years and five months for illicit enrichment, and six years and one day for abuse of office — totaling 18 years behind bars.
Prosecutors also recommended a fine of over 910 million CFA francs (around $1.5 million USD), alongside a lifetime ban from holding public office.
But it is not just the theft of state funds that has captured public attention. As the anti-fraud task force conducted an impromptu search of Engonga’s office, they stumbled upon dozens of CDs and digital footage — all revealing explicit sexual encounters.
To the horror of the nation, the individuals featured were reportedly some of the most protected and powerful women in the country: wives of senior government officials, the wife of Engonga’s own brother, the sister of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, and the wife of the country’s Police Chief. In total, over 20 ministers’ wives were reportedly involved.
The court confirmed that the tapes — most of which were consensually recorded — were discovered in Engonga’s private office and have since leaked onto the internet, sparking nationwide outrage and shame.
So far, six other former top government officials are standing trial alongside Engonga, including Carmelo Julio Matogo Ndong, Ireneo Mangue Monsuy Afana, and Florentina Iganga Iñandji. All are accused of participating in a vast corruption network that allegedly looted state resources with impunity.
The trial, which is expected to span three days, continues this week as defense lawyers attempt to counter mounting evidence against the accused.
While the final judgment is yet to be delivered, the case has already ignited fierce public debate about the culture of impunity and corruption among Equatorial Guinea’s elite. What started as a financial probe has morphed into one of the most explosive sex scandals in the country’s history — exposing not only the depths of public theft but the moral collapse within corridors of power.
The outcome of this trial is expected to send a strong message — either reinforcing the government’s renewed anti-corruption stance or revealing, once again, the limits of accountability when power and privilege are at stake.
