Magistrate presses ahead with Mohameds’ extradition hearing despite defence plea for stay

Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman has ruled that she must continue the extradition proceedings against Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, both of whom are U.S.-sanctioned and indicted, noting that she is bound by a recent order of the Court of Appeal of Guyana.

Chief Magistrate Latchman made the ruling on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
This came after lawyers for the two businessmen asked her to stay her hand while they seek clarity from the appellate court on the implications of its order.

The Court of Appeal has allowed the extradition proceedings to continue but barred the Chief Magistrate from making a final ruling while it determines the Mohameds’ challenge to the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Act.

Their lawyers maintain that the constitutional challenge has implications for the extradition proceedings and argued that the magistrate should await directions from the Court of Appeal on how the committal hearing should proceed.

The extradition proceedings had been placed on hold since March 25, consequent by an order of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

However, that order was discharged on July 29 after the regional court dismissed the Mohameds’ challenge to the Authority to Proceed issued by Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond.

The defence’s latest request for a stay was based on what Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde described as a “crisis of clarity” arising from the appellate court’s ruling.

Forde, who appeared with attorneys Damien Da Silva and Siand Dhurjon, told the court that the defence intends to approach the Court of Appeal for directions and clarification on the scope and effect of its order before the extradition hearing proceeds further.

However, the prosecution, led by Jamaican King’s Counsel Terrence Williams, along with fellow Jamaican attorneys Herbert McKenzie and Celine Deidrick, urged the court to allow the matter to continue.

Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine, head of the Special Branch Unit, is currently under cross-examination by the defence after testifying on matters including the arrest of the Mohameds.

Narine, who is the prosecution’s second witness, commenced his testimony on Thursday as the prosecution continued presenting its case.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sharon Roopchand Edwards, was also available for cross-examination as part of the proceedings.

Her cross-examination has been deferred.

The Mohameds are challenging efforts to extradite them to the United States under Guyana’s Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Act.

The extradition proceedings are linked to allegations by U.S. authorities against the two businessmen.

The United States is seeking their extradition over allegations that they were involved in a multi-year scheme to evade taxes and royalties on gold exports.

The alleged scheme, involving falsified customs declarations and the reuse of government export seals, is said to have caused approximately US$50 million in losses to the Government of Guyana.

Both men were sanctioned by the U.S. Government in 2024 and subsequently indicted in the United States in 2025.

Despite the request for a pause, Thursday’s ruling means the extradition hearing will continue, although the Chief Magistrate remains prohibited from delivering a final decision pending the Court of Appeal’s order.

Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed remain on $150,000 bail each pending the determination of the extradition proceedings.

As part of their bail conditions, they are required to surrender their passports and report weekly to the Ruimveldt Police Station.

The hearing will continue tomorrow.