Equatorial Guinea Official Baltasar Ebang Engonga Jailed for 8 Years After Viral Tlof Tlof Scandal
A senior Equatorial Guinean official, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzlement.
The provincial tribunal in Bioko found him guilty of misusing professional travel expenses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for personal use.
According to Hilario Mitogo, press director of the Supreme Court, the case also implicated five other senior officials accused of embezzling public funds in the oil-rich nation.
Also Read: Equatorial Guinea Government Suspends Baltasar Ebang Engonga Over His 400 Videos
From Financial Oversight to Financial Misconduct
Engonga once headed the national financial investigation agency, a powerful role intended to safeguard state resources.
Instead, prosecutors said he exploited his position by pocketing inflated travel allowances meant for official government duties.
A Separate Scandal That Rocked the Nation
Engonga’s conviction comes less than a year after a separate controversy thrust him into the international spotlight.
In late 2023, explicit videos involving him and women linked to other high-ranking officials surfaced online while he was already in detention.
The leaks caused a storm in Equatorial Guinea, with reports alleging that some of the encounters were filmed inside government offices. The revelations led to his suspension from office and further tarnished his reputation.
Government’s Reputation Under Scrutiny
The high-profile case has raised questions about corruption and accountability in Equatorial Guinea. With multiple senior figures accused of siphoning off state resources, critics argue that Engonga’s case is just one example of deeper systemic issues in the country’s governance.