Baltasar Egonga Ebang, the former Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Agency for Financial Investigation, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being found guilty of embezzling over 1 billion CFA francs (approximately Sh 230 million) in government funds.
According to local media reports, Engonga personally misappropriated 910 million CFA francs (Sh 209.3 million), which he allegedly used to fund a lavish lifestyle, including expenditures on women and other personal indulgences.
The trial, which commenced on Monday, also implicated several other former officials from public enterprises. Prosecutors detailed how the extensive embezzlement scheme was orchestrated by Engonga during his tenure as head of the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance (DGAR) between 2015 and 2020.
Reporting on the verdict, media outlet Le Bled Parle stated that the prosecution had sought a stringent sentence, requesting eight years for embezzlement, four years and five months for illicit enrichment, and six years and one day for abuse of power. In addition to his prison term, Engonga has been ordered to pay a fine exceeding 910 million CFA francs (Sh 209.3 million) and has been permanently barred from holding public office.
Six other high-ranking officials, including Carmelo Julio Matogo Ndong, Ireneo Mangue Monsuy Afana, and Florentina Iganga Iñandji, are currently standing trial in connection with what authorities have described as a sprawling network of financial corruption within the government.
Engonga’s reputation was further tarnished in November 2024 when dozens of explicit videos, reportedly showing him engaged in sexual acts with over 40 women, surfaced online, adding another layer of scandal to his public profile.
