Cameroon Police Sex-Tape Scandal: Senior Official Sacked After Leaked Videos

Police Headquarters has appointed Division Commissioner Armand Abena to run the region on an interim basis while an internal disciplinary board and a parallel judicial inquiry move ahead.

What the investigations will examine

• Use of service premises – Police rules forbid non-operational use of offices; the footage was reportedly shot after working hours but inside the delegate’s official suite.

• Power imbalance – Investigators must determine whether the junior officers took part willingly or under pressure from a superior.

• Illegal recording and distribution – Cameroonian cyber-crime law punishes filming or sharing explicit images without consent; identifying who posted the clips online is now part of the criminal probe.

If misconduct is proven, penalties could include dismissal, loss of rank and prison sentences of up to five years.

A regional echo of the “Baltasar affair” next door

The scandal immediately recalls the 2024 case of Baltasar Ebang Engonga in Equatorial Guinea. Engonga, then head of the National Financial Investigation Agency, was suspended after authorities discovered hundreds of sex videos he had recorded with junior civil servants inside government offices. He now faces trials for corruption and for distributing explicit material without consent.

Both incidents share three traits:

1. Senior–junior dynamics on camera – High-ranking officials engaged in sexual acts with subordinates at the workplace.

2. Rapid social-media spread – Clips leaked online before authorities could control the narrative, forcing swift dismissals.

3. Policy backlash – Equatorial Guinea installed surveillance cameras in ministries after the Baltasar case; Cameroon’s police hierarchy may face similar pressure to tighten office-access rules and privacy safeguards.

Why the outcome matters for the Centre

The Centre Region, home to the nation’s capital, already struggles with low public confidence in law enforcement. A clear, transparent conclusion—whether exoneration or sanction—will test the police ethics charter introduced in April. Adopting measures like mandatory CCTV logs and secure whistle-blower channels, similar to reforms next door, could help rebuild credibility.

Disciplinary hearings are expected within two weeks, followed by any criminal charges from the Yaoundé military tribunal. Updates will be published as official information becomes available.