By Kennedy Nalyanya
MALABO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA — In a major development for anti-corruption efforts in Central Africa, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the former head of Equatorial Guinea's National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the embezzlement of public funds. The Bioko provincial tribunal also ordered him to pay a significant financial penalty.
The conviction follows a high-profile case where Engonga was found guilty of diverting public funds for personal use. The court’s verdict confirmed that he illicitly used money designated for professional travel expenses, with the embezzled amounts reaching up to CFA125.4 million (approximately $220,000 USD). As part of the sentence, the court has ordered him to repay the full amount.
Engonga's trial was part of a larger crackdown on financial malfeasance, with several other senior officials also facing charges in the same case. The prosecution’s ability to secure a conviction against a figure who was, ironically, meant to be at the forefront of financial scrutiny, highlights a growing push for accountability in the nation's governance.
The case also gained international attention due to a linked sex-tape scandal. During the initial financial investigation, explicit videos were reportedly discovered on Engonga’s electronic devices. The subsequent leak of these videos added a sensational layer to the legal proceedings, drawing a line between the financial probe and the personal scandal that ultimately brought his case to public light.
The conviction of such a high-ranking official sends a clear message about the government’s commitment to combating corruption, even within its own financial oversight institutions.
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