WASHINGTON, US
The US justice department says that $26.6m (£20m) seized from Equatorial Guinea’s Vice-President Teodorin Nguema Obiang Mangue will be spent on Covid vaccines and other medical programmes in the West African state.
“Wherever
possible, kleptocrats will not be allowed to retain the benefits of
corruption,” an official said in a statement.
Obiang was
forced to sell a mansion in Malibu, California, Ferrari and various Michael
Jackson memorabilia as part of a settlement he reached with the US authorities
in 2014 after being accused of corruption and money-laundering. He denied the
charges.
The
agreement stated that $10.3m of the money from the sale would be forfeited to
the United States and the rest would be distributed to a charity or other
organisation for the benefit of the people of Equatorial Guinea, the justice
department said.
The UN is to
receive $19.25m to purchase and administer Covid vaccines to at least 600,000
people in Equatorial Guinea, while a US-based charity is to get $6.35m for
other medical programmes in Equatorial Guinea.
Obiang has
been appointed to numerous government position by his father's regime,
including Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and "Second
Vice-President", in charge of defense and security, in May 2012.
He was
promoted to the position of First Vice-President in June, 2016.
Known for his lavish lifestyle, he has
been the subject of a number of international criminal charges and sanctions
for alleged embezzlement and corruption.
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