US-indicted businessmen Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed have lost yet another legal battle as they continue to fight off their extradition to face charges relating to gold smuggling and money laundering.
The father-and-son duo had approached the Court of Appeal to overturn an earlier High Court ruling on February 4 handed down by Chief Justice Navindra Singh.
The Chief Justice (acting) had dismissed a case filed by the Mohameds challenging the legality of the Authority to Proceed issued by Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond.
Through their attorneys, the applicants had argued in the High Court that the minister’s decision to authorise the extradition process was influenced by political considerations. They maintained that Azruddin Mohamed’s involvement in politics and his participation in the September 2025 General and Regional Elections created a situation where bias could be inferred.
Their lawyers had therefore asked the court to invalidate the Authority to Proceed issued under the Fugitive Offenders Act and to bring an end to the arrest warrant and the extradition case being heard by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman.
However, the acting Chief Justice found no merit in those arguments. In his ruling, he determined that the minister was exercising an executive responsibility set out in law and was not acting in a judicial or quasi-judicial capacity.
The High Court ultimately dismissed the application and ordered the Mohameds to pay $500,000 in costs to each of the respondents, the Attorney-General, the Minister of Home Affairs and Principal Magistrate Latchman.
However, the Mohameds filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal where a ruling was delivered today.
In its ruling, the court found that the appeal lacked merit, holding that the Mohameds failed to prove any bias on the part of the Minister of Home Affairs.
The Court of Appeal further ordered the Mohameds to pay a total of $3 million in costs, with $1.5 million awarded to Minister Walrond and $1.5 million to Attorney General Anil Nandlall.
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