In the wake of major investigations and property seizures by the French and Spanish governments, the U.S. Department of Justice recently announced an official investigation and freezing of the properties owned by the playboy heir and son of the Equatorial Guinean dictator, Malibu resident Teodorin Obiang.
The Department of Justice began to take action this month, targeting the alleged money laundering into the U.S. from Equatorial Guinea by means of several over-the-top expenditures. Investigations are beginning with reports of “extortion, theft of public funds, or other corrupt conduct,” according to the government probe.
Along with the estimated $35 million Malibu estate, other properties being examined in the investigation include an extensive sports car collection, a private jet and an array of Michael Jackson paraphernalia like an original white crystal-covered glove from the “Bad” tour.
After nearly seven years of investigation by a Senate committee and private research like that of Pepperdine’s Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Robert Williams, the Obiang property case is now officially filed as a “lis pendens,” which opens the door to possible property seizure.
Through his investment in the research and publication about the Obiang family estate and financial activities, Williams expressed his excitement about the U.S. government intervention. The actions aren’t quite as aggressive as Williams originally hoped, but he said that the precursor to a court filing and the indication of future legal action is a promising start.
“I’m ecstatic. Something like this should have happened a long time ago,” Williams said. “I realize that this isn’t a perfect solution to the problem, but it’s a very good step in the right direction.”
Williams attributes the delay in the government intervention to the special interest connections that the U.S. holds in Equatorial Guinean oil, hypothesizing that the former U.S. administration probably avoided harming commercial interests with any kind of obtrusive legal investigation.
“It seems like President Obama’s administration has a different view than previous administrations, especially when it comes to the government’s corruption investigations,” Williams said.
According to Williams, part of the reason that the U.S. is now jumping on board to punish
possible corruption maneuvers here in the States is due to the aggressive investigations of the Obiang family properties in Spain and France within the last several months.
Williams also accredits increased media attention on the Obiang family controversies for the U.S.’s seemingly reluctant legal action. Williams himself researched and published his article about the Obiang Malibu residence over the last summer. He described it as a culmination of many other actions, including numerous other letters to and interviews with various news agencies and elected officials. Williams said that he feels he is part of the group that has chosen not to ignore the worst abuses of human rights in governments like those in Equatorial Guinea.
“But I was just banging a drum, not calling the tune,” Williams said.
According to Williams, part of the reason that the U.S. is now jumping on board to punish possible corruption maneuvers here in the States is due to the aggressive investigations of the Obiang family properties in Spain and France within the last several months.
Williams himself researched and published his article about the Obiang Malibu residence over the last summer. He described it as a culmination of many other actions, including numerous other letters to and interviews with various news agencies and elected officials. Williams said that he feels he is part of the group that has chosen not to ignore the worst abuses of human rights in governments like those in Equatorial Guinea.
“But I was just banging a drum, not calling the tune,” Williams said.
