. To be tried for corruption and embezzlement
The former Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been remanded in Malabo’s Black Beach Prison.
Engonga was arrested days ago for allegedly recording over 400 sex tapes involving the wives of prominent figures in the country.
This scandal was uncovered during a fraud investigation into the 54-year-old alleged corrupt practices of the former anti-graft boss, resulting in an impromptu search of his home and office by ANIF officials, who reportedly discovered several CDs that revealed his sexual encounters with different married women.
The footage later leaked online, causing a media uproar and resulting in Engonga’s stacking by the Equatorial Guinea’s President, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
Engonga’s dismissal by President Mbasogo, according to Decree No. 118/2024, dated 4th November, was due to “irregularities committed in the exercise of his functions, as well as inappropriate family and social conduct for the performance of public duties.”
On Friday, a viral video surfaced on social media showing Engonga handcuffed on both hands and legs during a court appearance.
French online blog Afrikmatin, which confirmed the development, reported that Engonga, who was officially removed from his role on November 6, 2024, was subsequently chained and transferred to Malabo Central Prison.
He’s being charged for corruption and embezzlement.
Also, an online newspaper, UGStandard, reported that the sex tapes began circulating on social networks while Engonga was already held at Malabo’s notorious Black Beach Prison on charges of embezzling public funds, as reported by state television, TVGE.
Dubawa, in a fact-checking report published on Wednesday, confirmed that Engonga had indeed been taken into custody on corruption charges and is currently being detained in Black Beach Prison.
