Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the man at the heart of Equatorial Guinea’s widely shared sextape scandal, is making headlines once more after serving almost a year in Black Beach Prison.
This time, he’s in court on a number of serious corruption charges that could put him in jail for almost eighteen years.
Engonga, a former senior official at the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance (DGAR), appeared before a crowded courtroom on June 30, 2025, where he was charged with masterminding one of the most egregious cases of misappropriation of public funds in the nation’s recent history.
The Charges:
According to prosecutors, Engonga used his position at DGAR to divert significant public funds through a sophisticated network of internal collaborators. The state is pursuing multiple charges against him, including:
8 years for embezzlement
4 years and 5 months for illicit enrichment
6 years and 1 day for abuse of office
A $1.5 million fine
A lifetime ban from serving in public office for the term of the sentence
Engonga could spend a total of 18 years behind bars if found guilty on all counts.
However, there are other people in the dock besides Engonga.
The Co-Accused:
He is being tried alongside six other people who have been identified as important enablers in government-affiliated organizations. Among them are:
Ndong, Carmelo Julio Matogo
Afana Ireneo Mangue Monsuy
Iganga Florentina Iñandji
and three more defendants who have not been identified
According to the prosecution, this group established a sophisticated network of financial malpractice within state institutions, taking advantage of institutional flaws for their own benefit.
From Notoriety to the Courtroom
In mid-2024, a sextape scandal involving Engonga went viral, sparking a media frenzy and making him an already divisive figure.
