Three of former president Yahya Jammeh’s private planes have been sold to Gambian businessman Modou Turo Darboe.

Mr Darboe paid $500,000 for the jets and the transaction was done three years ago, according to reports. 

The deal was never publicised even though The Gambia Government had announced its plans to sell the assets of Mr Jammeh in 2017 after his removal from power. 

The sale only came to light last week after  the U.K. based news platform African Intelligence reported that Jammeh’s planes were sold to a Belarusian company. 

The Gambia government spokesman Ebrima Sankareh confirmed the sale during an interview with West Coast Radio on Tuesday.

“The sales were conducted in 2019,” Mr Sankareh said. 

He added that the Ministry of Finance under the guidelines of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority sold all three planes to Mr Darboe at a cumulative price of $500,000.

However he could not confirmed whether Mr Darboe had sold the planes to a Belarusian company.