Equatorial Guinea Launches Investigation into Leaked Sex Tapes Involving Financial Crime Chief

 

Equatorial Guinea’s government has launched a probe into a scandal involving its financial crime chief, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, after hundreds of explicit videos allegedly showing him engaging in sexual acts with various women, including the spouses of high-ranking officials, surfaced online. The leaked videos have sparked public outrage and prompted the suspension of several government officials.

A statement released by the Equatorial Guinea Press and Information Office confirmed the government's response, which included suspending the officials featured in the videos. The government condemned the acts depicted in the tapes, citing them as a "flagrant violation of the code of conduct" and stating that they had tarnished the country’s reputation.

Vice-President Teodoro Mangue expressed concern over the scandal, declaring that any official caught engaging in inappropriate activities at work would face severe sanctions. The government also announced steps to bolster security in judicial and ministerial offices, including the installation of surveillance cameras and reinforcing the duties of personnel responsible for oversight.

The investigation into the scandal follows the viral circulation of the explicit videos, which reportedly show Engonga with multiple women, some of whom are married, including the spouse of the head of presidential security and even his own brother’s wife. The videos were reportedly recorded in various locations such as hotels, offices, and public spaces. These tapes were discovered during a broader corruption investigation into Engonga, who is also the head of the National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF). While Engonga had been arrested for corruption, the discovery of these recordings on his personal devices led to further scrutiny.

Equatorial Guinea's government has expressed its determination to address the issue and prevent similar incidents in the future. A series of urgent meetings have been held involving top judicial and government officials, including the President of the Supreme Court of Justice and the Attorney General, to implement measures to stop such behavior and propose preventive strategies.