Report | Nov. 17, 2009

Secret Life of a Shopaholic

Confidential U.S. government documents uncovered by Global Witness and reported on in the New York Times, strongly suggest that Teodorin Obiang, son of the dictator of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, purchased a $33 million private jet, a $35 million Malibu mansion, speedboats and a fleet of fast cars using corruptly acquired funds.

The Secret Life of a Shopaholic explains how despite the ample evidence against him, Teodorin continues to be allowed into the U.S. He is reported to be building a custom 200 foot yacht with shark tank but the ordinary citizens of the West African nation continue to exist in poverty and oppression.

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"U.S. law requires the State Department to deny visas to foreign officials when there is credible evidence they are involved in corruption; yet the authorities have continued to allow Teodorin to come and go as he pleases" Anthea Lawson, Global Witness