The former Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, is facing up to 18 years in prison as his corruption trial proceeds at the Malabo court. Engonga, who has been detained at the notorious Black Beach Prison since September 2024, stands accused of embezzling public funds, unlawful enrichment, and abuse of power during his tenure as head of the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance from 2015 to 2020. According to a report by *Le Bled Parle*, prosecutors claim Engonga masterminded an elaborate financial scheme that diverted state resources for personal use. During Monday’s hearing, the national prosecutor requested eight years for embezzlement, four years and five months for unlawful enrichment, and six years and one day for abuse of office, along with a fine exceeding 910 million CFA francs (approximately \$1.5 million). The prosecution also called for a ban preventing him from holding public office during his sentence. In a twist that has shaken the country’s political elite, investigators reportedly discovered over 400 sex tapes during searches of Engonga’s office and residence. The videos, said to have been recorded with consent, feature high-profile women—including the wives of ministers, security chiefs, and relatives of senior government figures. Stored on CDs and hard drives hidden in his private office, many of these tapes have since leaked online, fueling public outrage. Engonga is on trial alongside six other former senior officials, including Carmelo Julio Matogo Ndong and Florentina Iganga Iñandji, all accused of belonging to a vast network accused of looting public funds. The trial is set to continue this week, with defence lawyers scheduled to present their arguments.