Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Supreme Court in Equatorial Guinea has set aside all charges filed against Baltasar Bello Ebang Engonga , citing lack of evidence and confirming that all individuals involved in the intimate videos were consenting adults.
Recall that the case gained international attention after compromising videos of Mr. Engonga surfaced online.
The court emphasized that medical tests proved he had not transmitted any sexually transmitted diseases to those involved, further affirming his innocence.
A surprising development emerged as several married men whose wives appeared in the videos expressed gratitude to Mr. Engonga. They revealed that the videos exposed hidden aspects of their married lives, leading some to pursue divorce.
Mr. Engonga announced plans to take legal action against individuals responsible for leaking the videos. He described the dissemination as a grave violation of his privacy, highlighting the emotional distress it caused his family, particularly his wife.
Before his arrest, Mr. Engonga headed the National Financial Investigation Agency, where he worked to combat crimes like money laundering.
On October 25, Mr. Engonga was detained over allegations of embezzling substantial state funds and hiding them in offshore accounts. He has not publicly addressed these accusations.
Following his arrest, Mr. Engonga was imprisoned in Malabo’s notorious Black Beach prison, known for allegations of severe mistreatment of government opponents.
Authorities seized his phones and computers during the investigation. Shortly after, the intimate videos began appearing online, adding a sensational dimension to an already complex case.