A court in Equatorial Guinea has handed down a verdict against Ruslan Obiang Nsue, son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, for unlawfully selling a government-owned aircraft.
The ruling came on Tuesday, announcing that the former head of the national airline faces six years behind bars unless he reimburses the state for the missing plane.
According to Hilario Mitogo, spokesperson for the supreme court, the accused, aged 50, previously managed Ceiba Intercontinental, the country’s national carrier. Investigators found that Obiang Nsue negotiated the sale of an ATR 72-500 aircraft to a Spanish firm, pocketing the proceeds without authorization.
Following his 2023 house arrest, which was ordered by his half-brother and current vice-president Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, also a presidential son, the court declared that Ruslan could avoid incarceration by reimbursing approximately $255,000 to the airline, alongside additional damages and a governmental fine.
While convicted of the illicit transaction, Obiang Nsue was cleared of other allegations including embezzlement and misconduct in office.
Notably, Ruslan has held positions beyond aviation, including serving as secretary of state for sports and youth.
In a related development, the vice-president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, received a suspended jail sentence and a $35 million penalty in France last year for charges of public fund misappropriation.
The court’s ruling reinforces the imperative of accountability within national institutions, emphasizing that unauthorized transactions involving state assets carry heavy legal repercussions.
