A high-profile corruption case in Equatorial Guinea has seen Ruslan Obiang Nsue, son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, convicted for the illegal sale of a state-owned aircraft belonging to the national airline.
The court ruled on Tuesday that Obiang Nsue must serve six years in prison unless he reimburses Ceiba Intercontinental about $255,000, in addition to damages and a fine to the state. The ruling was confirmed by Supreme Court press director Hilario Mitogo.
The 50-year-old, who once served as director of Ceiba Intercontinental, was found guilty of selling an ATR 72-500 plane to a Spanish company and pocketing the proceeds. He has been under house arrest since 2023 on the orders of his half-brother, Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue.
While the court acquitted him of separate charges of embezzlement and abuse of office, the conviction further highlights growing legal troubles within the president’s family.
Obiang Nsue has also held government positions, including secretary of state for sports and youth. His father, President Obiang, has ruled the oil-rich Central African country for 46 years and is currently the longest-serving leader in Africa at age 83.
In a separate case in 2021, a French court convicted Vice-President Obiang Mangue of embezzlement, imposing a suspended prison sentence and a $35-million fine.
AFP
