Mohameds’ extradition case adjourned to Oct 21

The extradition hearing involving US-sanctioned Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, has been adjourned, with proceedings set to resume on October 21 and continue on October 22 before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The adjournment followed the completion of defence attorney Siand Dhurjon’s cross-examination of Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine on Tuesday.

Narine, who heads the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch Unit, began giving evidence on September 3 and has faced extensive questioning about intelligence gathered by the police concerning Azruddin Mohamed.

During his testimony, Narine told the court that he considered Azruddin Mohamed a threat to society and national security, based on intelligence available to the Special Branch Unit.

He also testified about intelligence allegedly linking Azruddin Mohamed to several execution-style killings, although he acknowledged that he was not an eyewitness to the alleged incidents and that, to his knowledge, Azruddin Mohamed had not been arrested or charged in connection with those allegations.

Narine was also questioned about alleged political surveillance and his relationship with President Dr. Irfaan Ali.

He rejected suggestions that police monitored Azruddin Mohamed because of his political activities and denied that the President had ordered surveillance of him.

On Tuesday, Dhurjon concluded his cross-examination after several days of questioning the Special Branch head.

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde then began cross-examining Narine on behalf of the defence and will continue when the matter resumes.

Forde’s cross-examination of Narine is scheduled to continue when the extradition hearing resumes on October 21 at 1:30 p.m., with a further sitting on October 22.

The extradition proceedings stem from a request by the United States for the surrender of Azruddin Mohamed and Nazar Mohamed.

They are wanted to face an 11-count federal indictment alleging wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs offences linked to an alleged scheme involving Guyanese gold exports.