Gambia: Former leader's assets frozen

By Mustapha Darboe

BANJUL, Gambia (AA) - The assets of Gambia’s former president Yahya Jammeh believed to be worth millions of dollars have been frozen by authorities of the small nation, the country’s justice minister Abubacarr Tambadou has told journalists on Monday evening.

Tambadou said the order affected 131 land properties or companies directly associated with Jammeh, as well as 86 different bank accounts.

Gambia’s strongman Jammeh who ruled the country with an iron fist for 22 years lost to Adama Barrow on Dec. 1.

“The application for the freezing order was necessitated by the discovery of unauthorized withdrawals of millions of dalasis and foreign currencies by former President Yahya Jammeh from the Central Bank and other state corporations,” Tambadou said.

Jammeh is currently living in exile in Equatorial Guinea.