Equatorial Guinea: property of Vice President Teodorin Obiang seized in South Africa

Teodorin Obiang, vice-president of Equatorial Guinea, in May 2019. Michele Spatari / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

In South Africa, property belonging to Equatorial Guinean Vice-President Teodorin Obiang, two properties in Cape Town and a luxury yacht moored in the port of this city, have been seized by local justice.

Action taken in connection with a case where a South African citizen was illegally imprisoned ten years ago in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea.

Advertisement

Read more

With our correspondent in Johannesburg,

After convictions and sanctions in France, the United Kingdom, or the United States, it is now facing South African justice that Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, nicknamed "Teodorin", has trouble starting: property belonging to the current vice-president of Equatorial Guinea, who is also the son of the head of state, were seized in Cape Town.

► To read also: Ill-gotten gains in Equatorial Guinea: the conviction of Teodorin Obiang confirmed in France

With these two properties, in very chic areas of the city, and this luxury yacht over 60 meters moored in the port, several million rand are involved in this seizure.

It follows the rejection at the beginning of the month of an appeal filed by the Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea.

Teodorin Obiang challenged the decision of the South African justice taken in 2021 obliging him to pay nearly 2 million euros to the South African Daniel Janse van Rensburg, for illegal arrest and torture.

Seized goods could be auctioned off

The case dates back to 2013. This specialist in the aviation sector was to finalize a contract in Equatorial Guinea, in order to launch an airline with a relative of the Obiang family.

At the last moment, the project fell through.

Unable to repay, Daniel Janse van Rensburg found himself thrown in prison, "

" Teodorin Obiang, as described by one of the judges in charge of the appeal, the current vice-president supervising at the his country's defense and security issues.

The South African businessman will spend more than a year in the "Black Beach" prison in Malabo, known for its mistreatment of prisoners.

Now, with the rejection of this appeal, the seized goods could soon be sold at auction.

► To read also: Equatorial Guinea: Ruslan Obiang, son of the president, arrested on the orders of his half-brother Teodorin

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

• Equatorial Guinea

• South Africa

• Crime

• Corruption

• finance