Son of Equatorial Guinea President, Ruslan Obiang Nsue
A court in Equatorial Guinea has convicted Ruslan Obiang Nsue, son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, for the unauthorized sale of a national airline plane.
According to Supreme Court press director Hilario Mitogo, the ruling on Tuesday mandates a six-year prison sentence unless Obiang Nsue compensates the state for the aircraft’s value.
“The court has ordered him to pay approximately $255,000 to Ceiba Intercontinental, in addition to damages and a fine,” Mitogo stated in a WhatsApp message to reporters.
Obiang Nsue, 50, formerly led the national carrier Ceiba Intercontinental and was found guilty of selling an ATR 72-500 aircraft to a Spanish company, keeping the proceeds for himself.
Placed under house arrest in 2023 by his half-brother, Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, he now faces jail unless the payment is made.
The court, however, cleared him of separate charges involving embezzlement and abuse of power.
In a related case, Vice-President Obiang Mangue faced legal consequences abroad.
“A French court in July 2021 imposed a suspended sentence and a $35-million fine on the vice-president for embezzling public funds,” court records indicate. Obiang Nsue, who also served as secretary of state for sports and youth, is part of the ruling family of the oil-rich nation, led by his 83-year-old father for over four decades.
