A high-profile corruption case has shaken Equatorial Guinea as a court officially sentenced Baltasar Ebang Engonga, one of the nation’s senior government officials, to eight years in prison for embezzlement. The ruling comes after several months of investigation, media reports, and public uproar that stemmed not only from financial misconduct but also from a scandal involving leaked sex tapes that exposed the private affairs of some officials’ wives.
According to reports, the Bioko provincial tribunal found Engonga — the former head of Equatorial Guinea’s national financial investigation agency — guilty of diverting state funds under the guise of professional travel expenses, channeling them instead into personal use. Hilario Mitogo, the press director of the supreme court, confirmed the judgment in a WhatsApp statement sent to journalists, underscoring the government’s effort to clamp down on corruption within its ranks.
Engonga, a married man with years of political influence, stood trial alongside five other high-ranking officials who were also accused of mismanaging and embezzling several hundreds of thousands of dollars. Their alleged actions, carried out within the oil-rich Central African state, have been described as a betrayal of public trust in a country already grappling with economic disparity despite its wealth in natural resources.
The case began drawing global attention as early as November 2024, when explosive details emerged that Engonga, widely known by his nickname “Bello,” was allegedly featured in a series of explicit sex tapes. These videos, which were said to have been filmed in his office at the finance ministry, went viral on social media. The scandal fueled public outrage, while also giving rise to a wave of parodies, songs, comic skits, dance challenges, and even viral jokes about a fictional virility pill mockingly labeled “Balthazariem.”
While the sex tape scandal entertained and angered citizens in equal measure, the financial crimes carried heavier weight in court. The tribunal concluded that Engonga and his co-defendants had abused their positions of power, siphoning off large sums of money meant for government projects. This, authorities argued, significantly undermined both public confidence and the nation’s financial integrity.
Along with the eight-year prison sentence, the court also imposed a hefty financial penalty on Engonga. He was ordered to pay a fine of $220,000, further cementing the seriousness of the charges. Legal analysts suggest that the combination of jail time and fines signals the government’s intention to set an example that high-ranking status will not shield officials from accountability.
Despite the conviction, debates continue in both domestic and international circles. Some observers claim the case is a strong step toward tackling corruption in Equatorial Guinea, while others remain skeptical, questioning whether this verdict represents genuine reform or simply a symbolic gesture in response to mounting international scrutiny.
For now, the sentencing of Baltasar Ebang Engonga marks one of the most dramatic corruption cases in Equatorial Guinea’s recent history, combining financial misconduct, salacious scandal, and viral internet culture in a way that has captivated audiences far beyond the country’s borders.