Canada’s state export bank says it went to court to ground the ZS-OAK jet of the Guptas to stop the family from using it to commit crimes or flee from justice, notes a Business Day report. The Guptas could use the aircraft ‘to flee the country or for some other illicit purpose, for example taking money out of the country unlawfully’, Export Development Canada (EDC) said in an affidavit filed in the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg).

The bank was alarmed when the public tracker of the Guptas’ ZS-OAK was disconnected shortly after they were asked to confirm its whereabouts.

Its last known destination was St Petersburg, Russia. ‘The location of the aircraft is now completely unknown to the applicants,’ EDC said.

‘The switching off of the public tracker and the aircraft’s alleged movements fortify the applicant’s concern that the aircraft may be flown to various destinations to avoid detection or to destinations where it will be difficult to retrieve.’

EDC, which lent the Guptas $41m for 80% of the purchase price of the aircraft, applied for an urgent order to force the Guptas to return the aircraft or face having it deregistered pending the outcome of legal proceedings in the UK.

This, notes Business Day, means the Bombardier Global 6000 registered as ZS-OAK will not be able to fly legally anywhere in the world.

The SA Civil Aviation Authority said it would not oppose the urgent application to be heard on 6 March.

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