Sex tape scandal: Equatorial Guinea to prosecute Baltasar Engonga for misconduct

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Damilohun Maya

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The Government of Equatorial Guinea is set to prosecute its former Director General of the National Agency for Financial Investigation, Baltasar Engonga, for alleged misconduct in connection with a sex tape scandal.

“This decision comes after several videos went viral in which Ebang Engonga is seen having sexual relations with multiple women, some of whom are married”, a government spokesperson said.

According to another local news platform, Real Equatorial Guinea, this was made known by the Minister of Information, Press, and Culture, Jerónimo Osa Osa over the weekend in a public address covered by local media platform Ahora EG.

In his statement, the government representative described the actions of the ex-anti-graft agency chief as violating “the ethical and moral values of noble Equatorial Guinean society.”

The Minister also noted that the Government will initiate a thorough investigation into the acts committed by Baltasar Ebang Engonga through the State Attorney General’s Office.

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Minister of Information, Press, and Culture, Jerónimo Osa Osa
“In light of these serious events, which severely undermine family and social cohesion, and considering the negative impact that this situation has on the good image of our country, tarnishing its reputation, the government, through the Public Prosecutor’s Office, has commenced a thorough investigation to establish responsibilities at the administrative, civil, and criminal levels, given the possibility of a public health impact”.

He added that the investigation will assess various parameters. These will cover the distinction between personal and private spheres, prior consent (explicit or implicit), violations of privacy, damage to individuals’ honour and prestige and the rights of those harmed by these events, including the state itself.

Recall that last week, videos started making the rounds on social media showing the Director of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), Baltasar Ebang Engonga engaging in sexual acts with more than 40 different women.

The women were eventually identified include the wives of prominent government officials, relatives, and personal staff.

According to accounts where the videos were first spread by WhatsApp groups and then posted to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X, Engonga, a married man with six children, reportedly shot more than 400 pornographic videos at his office in the finance ministry. He also shot videos in hotel rooms, restrooms, and at least once beside a river.

Sex tapes: Equatorial Guinea replaces Ebang Engonga as anti-graft boss

Baltasar Engonga

None of the women appeared to have been coerced by the man and most of them appeared to be with the understanding that they were being recorded.

Engonga is well-connected within the government as he is the son of the current Chairman of the Commission of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, Baltasar Engonga Edjo. He is also reportedly related to the country’s long-serving president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

Equatorial Guinea President replaces Baltasar Engonga as anti-graft boss​


Recall that last week, President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo appointed Zenón Obiang Obiang Avomo as the new Director General of the National Agency for Financial Investigation. He replaced Mr Engonga.

According to another local news platform, Real Equatorial Guinea, the President fired Engonga for “irregularities committed in the exercise of his functions, as well as inappropriate family and social conduct for the performance of public functions, as stated in Decree number 118/2024, dated November 4.”

Zenón Obiang Obiang Avomo holds a law degree from the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE). He has previously held various positions, including Magistrate Judge of the Institution of Malabo, Director General of Contract Studies and State Markets at the Ministry of Finance and Budgets, Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, Economy and Planning, and Secretary General of Mines, Industry and Energy.

Sex tapes: Equatorial Guinea replaces Ebang Engonga as anti-graft boss

Zenón Obiang Obiang and Ebang Engonga

Due to local and international embarrassment that the released sex tape has caused to the government, the president’s family and the country at large, the government appears intent on curbing its spread, at least within its jurisdiction.

A few days after the scandal broke out, the. government banned its citizens from downloading and sharing multimedia files through mobile data on WhatsApp. The ban comes after the government issued previous directives to telecommunications companies, mandating them to implement measures that would limit access to inappropriate content.

The country’s vice president in charge of defence and security, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue said that he had given 24 hours’ notice to Equatorial Guinea’s telecommunications ministry, regulator and telephone companies to curb the distribution of pornographic videos that flooded social networks in the country.

As the government, we cannot continue to see families destroyed,” the vice president who is also the president’s son said.

The post Sex tape scandal: Equatorial Guinea to prosecute Baltasar Engonga for misconduct first appeared on Technext.
 
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