The Western Cape High Court in South Africa has ordered Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, to pay a South African man US$2.74 million as damages.
This is after Daniel Janse van Rensburg was jailed and tortured in Equatorial Guinea’s Black Beach prison in 2013 and 2014.
Reports say that Van Rensburg was detained after a business deal went sour. He was accused by a businessman in Malabo of stealing a down payment on the purchase of an airplane.
Following his release in 2014, the Cape Town businessman successfully attached Obiang’s two luxurious mansions in Cape Town.
UN General Assembly calls for end to arms deliveries to Myanmar
Obiang, son of Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, owns a collection of Michael Jackson memorabilia and property and luxury vehicles around the world despite the widespread poverty in his country.
Justice James Lekhuleni on Friday said Van Rensburg nearly died during his 423 days in jail “and this is a case that epitomises a sheer abuse of power and authority by the defendant (Obiang)”.
