THE task force yesterday impounded a plane hired to help former intelligence chief Xavier Chungu flee the country.

The aero commando plane with a Congolese registration number 9Q-CNN, is said to have been chartered by Raphael Soriano alias Katebe Katoto and Pilatus Engineering proprietor Joe Huweiler.

The plane which was chartered from South Africa was intercepted in Mongu by Zambian authorities before it could connect to Kawambwa where Chungu was to board from.

The hired plane escorted from Mongu by two Zambia Air Force (ZAF) fighter planes and two task force officers on board yesterday arrived at Lusaka International amid tight security.

The pilot, James Edwin Graham, refused to disclose details surrounding his interception. "My worry is we have this situation to solve with your security officers," said a visibly shaken Graham as he asked: "Who are all these people here, this looks like a big event?" He was referring to journalists and security officers who had combed the airport grounds.

Graham who could hardly maintain his posture maintained he did not understand why security agencies had impounded his plane.

But spokesman of the task force investigating plunder of the national economy, Nason Banda, said the plane from Johannesburg piloted by Graham was destined for Kawambwa to smuggle Chungu out of the country to an unknown destination.

He said all preliminary investigations indicated that Chungu who is facing criminal charges, was planning to sneak out of the country. "Earlier this week the task force received information that Mr. Xavier Chungu was about to leave the country and had chartered a plane from South Africa.

We moved in swiftly and intercepted Mr. Chungu in Mansa," Banda said. "I also would like to confirm that we have impounded both the plane and its pilot Graham of South Africa to assist us with information surrounding the whole episode."

Banda said the task force would interview Graham to confirm the intended escape of Chungu and the final destination. However, Banda said it was too early to ascertain whether Graham would be charged as a suspect or used as a state witness.

Banda said Chungu's attempt to leave the country while on bail indicated the need for increased surveillance on all suspected looters of national resources. He said the task force will not be deterred in its quest to cleanse the country of corruption. "Our security system will not allow anyone to escape the net," Banda said.

"We will be water tight in all our surveillance activities." Banda said anything acquired using national resources illegally will be repossessed to ensure sanity returned to Zambia. And unhappy sources close to former president Frederick Chiluba disclosed that Huweiler, who fled the country just when investigations on corruption started, made US $5,000 part payment for the aircraft to pick up Chungu and his family in Kawambwa. This was in the presence of Rapheal Soriano alias Katebe Katoto.

More money was to be paid upon a successful execution of the assignment. The sources said the plane was to take Chungu to Namibia where he would proceed to his final destination. Chungu was to be dropped at Katima Mulilo where he could have found his way to Windhoek.

"A lot of people were not happy in the Chiluba camp who interpreted Chungu's action as an attempt to leave Chiluba in trouble when they did everything together," the source said. "Chungu's family was not very happy because the plan had almost worked." And Huweiler, in a telephone interview from South Africa, yesterday denied ever paying for the chartered plane.

Huweiler, who owns a private jet, said he was only approached by Katoto on how to get to Zambia. Huweiler also denied ever fleeing from Zambia. He said he would be back into the country "sometime next week". The source said Chungu was not going to clear with immigration and customs and that they picked on Kawambwa which has no radar to detect the presence of any aircraft. The source said Chungu was charged with theft of motor bike in Mansa as a way to block him from proceeding to Kawambwa.

"The theft of the bike was not very crucial, the main issue was his plan to run away which he has attempted to do before," the source said. The plane was intercepted on Thursday in Mongu before Chungu was arrested in Mansa the same day. Chungu yesterday denied having any intentions to run away from Zambia.

"I don't know, there are so many creations," said Chungu. When he petitioned the High Court recently to complain against the state's decision to restrict his movements, Chungu said he was a free man with no intentions of living his motherland.

And police spokesperson Brenda Muntemba took journalists on tour of the Drug Enforcement Commission port where confiscated properties among them motor vehicles, boats and bikes are held. Notable on display were the 1500 series Goldwing Honda AAR 1344, the one Chungu is alleged to have stolen. The motor bike was recovered from former foreign affairs minister Katele Kalumba's house in Chiengi. Other property linked to Chungu included the 2050 Ls Bayliner boat, one Jetski (water surfing boat) and two quad cycles.

Other properties ceased from Chiengi but not linked to Chungu included a Toyota Hilux AAX 8694 from Mansa Milling, three Lowe Suncruiser boats and two jetskis. Muntemba said from Lusaka, the task force ceased a Scania truck, Lincoln Limousine AAV 399, and a 4 litre Jaguar S-type which was found at lawyer John Sangwa's residence covered in a tent when he was searched last week.

There were also two Jetskis from Siavonga. She said most of the property belonged to the state while some were seized upon failure to account for them by the various people suspected to be involved in the plunder of the national resources.

And Chungu was yesterday transferred to Kamwala Remand Prison after appearing before principal resident magistrate Frank Tembo. Magistrate Tembo said he could not hear the matter because the case record was locked up while the key-keeper was unreachable.

State prosecutor Mutembo Nchito said they wanted to place on record evidence from a witness who needed to fly out of the country quickly before making some amendments to the charge. The matter was adjourned to tomorrow when the state are expected to make some amendments to Chungu's indictment.