- The Gupta family's private is on sale for roughly R440 million.
- This after it was seized by Canada's export credit agency after the family defaulted on its debt.
- The plane, which previously flew president Cyril Ramaphosa to Japan, features onboard wifi and space for 14 people.
- For more stories, go to Business Insider SA.
A private jet previously owned by the infamous Gupta-family is on sale, and could reportedly be sold for as much as R440 million.
An advertisement for the 2015-model Bombardier Global 6000 was placed in Business Day’s lifestyle section on Tuesday.
The advert by Jetcraft aircraft sales did not explicitly mention that the plane was owned by the Gupta-family.
However, Geoffrey York, Africa correspondent for The Globe and Mail in Canada, spotted that the plane’s registration number is ZS-OAK, which was formerly owned by the family.
Wanna buy the former Gupta jet? Make an offer! After ZS-OAK was seized from the Guptas by Canadian bankers for loan defaults, brokers have been trying to sell it for the past 10 months. Latest ad is in Business Day. Only 328 landings so far! pic.twitter.com/qVVxzmfj62
— Geoffrey York (@geoffreyyork) September 11, 2019
Oakbay was the name of the Gupta family’s business in South Africa.
Jetcraft confirmed to Netwerk24 that the aeroplane was previously owned by the Gupta family.
TimesLive reported that an agent trying to sell the plane is hoping to sell the plane for $30 million, or R440 million.
The plane, which once flew president Cyril Ramapshosa to Japan when he was deputy president, features onboard wifi with space for 14 passengers.
According to the advertisement, it has only landed 328 times and has flown 1,256 hours.
The Gupta-family bought the plane with help from Canada's export credit agency, Export Development Canada (EDC), which reportedly paid up to 80% of the price, TimesLive reported.
In 2018, the EDC attained a court order to ground the plane after the Gupta family defaulted on its $41 million, roughly R579 million, loan.
The SABC reported that the plane was frequently used by South African ministers to Dubia while it was on charter.
The Gupta family, with close ties to former president Jacob Zuma, has been implicated in widespread corruption, and was allegedly involved making Zuma’s ministerial appointments.
Compiled by James de Villiers.
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