Former Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, could face 18 years imprisonment for his corruption charges.

Engonga who had since September 2024 following the corruption probe, and unrelated to the over 400 sextapes involving high-profile women uncovered in his office and house appeared in the Malabo court for the trial.

He is facing embezzlement charges alongside several other former senior officials.

During the court proceedings, the prosecution presented what they described as a sophisticated scheme to divert public funds for personal gain.

The scheme was allegedly coordinated by Engonga during his tenure as head of the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance from 2015-2020.

A news platform, Le Bled Parle, reported that the national prosecutor has called for a severe punishment; eight years in prison for embezzling public funds, four years and five months for unlawful enrichment, and six years and one day for abuse of power -cumulatively the would be 18 years in prison.

In addition to the prison terms, the charges include a recommended fine of over 910 million CFA francs (approximately KSh 218.4 million) and a prohibition on holding any public office throughout the sentence period.

Six other former senior government officials are facing trial.

In the course of the fraud investigation, Engonga was allegedly caught with over 400 sextapes of the wives of notable people including government officials in the country.

During a search in his house and office on impromptu notice by ANIF officials came across several CDs that later revealed his sexcapades with different married women.

The videos reportedly feature encounters with high-profile individuals, including his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the President of Equatorial Guinea, the wife of the Director General of Police, and approximately 20 of the country’s ministers’ wives, among others.

The footage, discovered in his personal office, was said to have been recorded with consent and has since been leaked online.