Equatorial Guinea Official Engonga Jailed for Eight Years on Embezzlement Charges, after sex tape scandal

A court in Equatorial Guinea has sentenced Carmelo Ovono Obiang, the country's former deputy minister of justice, to eight years in prison for embezzlement and misuse of public funds.

The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, marks a significant development in a case that has captivated the nation. The sentence follows an investigation into the misappropriation of over $500,000 intended for government projects.

Separately, and in a scandal that brought him initial notoriety, Ovono Obiang was the central figure in a series of leaked sex tapes. The videos, which circulated widely online, allegedly showed him in compromising situations with the wives of several high-ranking government and military officials. The scandal caused a significant political stir within the insular ruling class of the oil-rich nation.

While the court's sentence was specifically for the financial crimes, the earlier scandal is widely believed to have damaged his political standing and immunity, making him vulnerable to prosecution. The court also ordered the seizure of his assets.

Ovono Obiang, who also served as the director of the country's technical mission in Washington D.C., has denied the embezzlement charges. His legal team has announced plans to appeal the verdict.

Equatorial Guinea, under the long rule of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, is frequently cited by Transparency International and other watchdogs as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Prosecutions of high-level officials for graft remain rare.

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