Britain sanctions Equatorial Guinea leader’s son who splurged millions on luxury cars, Michael Jackson glove

London said Teodoro Obiang Mangue, who is also vice-president of Equatorial Guinea, was targeted for misappropriating millions of dollars

Four other individuals were also sanctioned under Britain’s anti-corruption regime

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Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president Teodoro Obiang Mangue. File photo: AP

Published: 11:23pm, 22 Jul 2021Updated: 1:06am, 23 Jul 2021

Britain on Thursday sanctioned the son of Equatorial Guinea’s president for misappropriating millions of dollars which London said was spent on luxury mansions, private jets and a US$275,000 glove worn by Michael Jackson.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Teodoro Obiang Mangue, who is also vice-president of Equatorial Guinea, had participated in “corrupt contracting arrangements and soliciting bribes, to fund a lavish lifestyle inconsistent with his official salary as a government minister”.

The Equatorial Guinea government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Britain said Obiang had bought a US$100 million mansion in Paris, a US$38 million private jet, a luxury yacht, and dozens of luxury vehicles including Ferraris, Bentleys and Aston Martins.

Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president spent US$275,000 on a glove worn by Michael Jackson. File photo: AP

The foreign ministry said he also bought “a collection of Michael Jackson memorabilia” including a US$275,000 crystal-covered glove that Jackson wore on his “Bad” tour.

Mangue’s father, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has ruled Equatorial Guinea since taking power in a coup in 1979, eleven years after independence from Spain.