A major corruption scandal has rocked Equatorial Guinea after a senior government official, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, was sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzlement, just months after his name was linked to a sensational leaked video scandal that drew global attention.

The ruling, handed down by the Bioko provincial tribunal, found Engonga guilty of diverting public funds meant for professional travel into his own pocket. 

He was also fined $220,000, according to Hilario Mitogo, press director of the country’s Supreme Court, who confirmed the outcome of the trial to reporters.

From financial watchdog to convicted felon

Before his downfall, Engonga served as head of Equatorial Guinea’s national financial investigation agency, a position meant to safeguard against corruption. 

Instead, he was accused alongside five other senior officials of siphoning off hundreds of thousands of dollars from the state. His conviction is now one of the most high-profile corruption cases in the oil-rich Central African nation.

A scandal that went viral

Engonga’s legal troubles might have stayed confined to courtroom proceedings, but a leaked sex tape scandal catapulted him into the global spotlight. 

Explicit videos, allegedly filmed in his government office and involving wives of other officials, surfaced on the internet while he awaited trial.

The footage quickly went viral, sparking outrage at home and ridicule abroad. Social media platforms in particular turned the scandal into a wave of memes, parody songs, and even a mock advert for a fake drug nicknamed “Balthazariem.”

For many citizens, the videos symbolized not just personal misconduct but also the arrogance of a political elite long accused of misusing public wealth.

Public reaction and political fallout

The case has stirred heated debate in Equatorial Guinea, where oil riches have historically enriched a small ruling class while the majority struggle with poverty. 

Critics say Engonga’s conviction, while significant, does not necessarily indicate a broader crackdown on corruption.

Observers remain divided: some see the ruling as a signal that the government may be taking financial crimes more seriously, while others view it as a symbolic gesture unlikely to dismantle entrenched corruption networks.

Questions that won’t go away

Beyond the courtroom, the scandal continues to fuel public curiosity. On social media, citizens and commentators alike are still asking uncomfortable questions: Why did Engonga record the explicit encounters? 

And why did the women involved consent to being filmed? While such questions remain unanswered, what is clear is that the scandal has left a lasting stain on Equatorial Guinea’s political establishment. 

For many, Engonga’s fall from power illustrates both the fragility of reputation in the digital age and the deep-rooted governance issues that continue to define the country.