Last Updated on Saturday, 7 June 2025, 12:45 by Writer
President Irfaan Ali on Thursday avoided answering directly whether he had any conversation with city businessman and one-time associate, Azruddin Mohamed about the payment of duties for the clearance of his Lamborghini luxury car.
“I’ve said very clearly to you on this matter. I don’t have any authority on taxes,” he said when asked whether he had engaged Mr Mohamed on the taxes to be paid. “Any citizen can raise any issue with me. Those matters are forwarded to the relevant agency. The agency is what makes the decision.”
Asked pointedly whether he had a WhatsApp conversation with Mr Mohamed who earlier this week released what he said was such an interaction about the taxes that should be paid on the vehicle and the subsequent facilitation of its registration after the Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia had allegedly blocked that process, Dr Ali, after attending a Chinese Embassy reception at the Marriott Hotel, said “I can’t say what conversation I had.”
On the direct question: “Did he (Mohamed) ask you for help?” the President responded “I can’t say what he asked for. He has shown you what he has asked for. I don’t know what help. I can’t help in tax matters.” To another reporter’s question: “You can’t remember the conversation?” the President answered “He showed the extent of a conversation. I can’t recall anything.”
The President reiterated that Mr Mohamed was “dishonest” and had allegedly “cheated the country of taxes” totalling more than US$50 million on the export of over 10,000 kilogrammes of gold. Asked recently whether he had done so, Mr Mohamed said “No, I don’t know about that.”
The President said the U.S. has shared the correct document concerning the authentic purchase price for Mr Mohamed’s Lamborghini. The document, which has been tendered in a High Court case brought by Mr. Mohamed, shows that he allegedly paid US$695,000 for the vehicle but declared its value as US$75,300, which formed the basis for the taxes that were paid. Mr Mohamed has since publicly disclosed what he said was proof of the purported wire transfer of US$75,000 to the vendor in the US for the specific purchase of the identifiable car.
The President also deflected a question on whether he had engagement with Mr Mohamed on the matter of the taxes. “Why are you saying I had an engagement with him? Did you see any engagement there?” Dr Ali asked. Accusing Mr Mohamed of “duplicity and dishonesty”, the President said he could claim anything even in the facing of “glaring” truth.
As previously reported on Demerara Waves Online News, Mr Mohamed said that on October 6, 2020, “I told him that I want to pay $50 million duty, if that would be a problem, because I saw the Lamborghini was selling for around $75,000 because it had some electrical issues and it was COVID time so I got a good deal on the car,” he said.
He alleged that the President asked him why he did not want to pay GY$25 million instead to which he explained that the duty was much higher on a luxury vehicle.
Mr Azruddin sought to implicate President Ali in the car purchase. He said the car was purchased on October 7, 2020 for US$75,400 with his “approval”. He said Dr Ali “is in receipt of that invoice”.
Displaying on his phone what he said was a copy of a Republic Bank transfer of US$75,300 on October 7, 2020 for the identical vehicle, he said he forwarded the invoice on December 8, 2020 to Dr Ali when the car arrived.
Mr Mohamed was charged by GRA last week for making a false declaration and tax evasion, based on evidence that the GRA said it was obtained from the United States. “This is the trump card”, he said in referring to the SWIFT money transfer document, as he sought to debunk claims by Dr Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo that they had no knowledge about the Lamborghini.
He said after the car arrived on December 7, he cleared the car, paid the GY$50 million in duty and thanked the President. “Chief, all good with the car, thanks”.
Mr Mohamed also displayed a purported WhatsApp conversation in which he had apparently asked the President to intervene in the registration of the car because the Commissioner-General had allegedly blocked its licence registration until he green-lighted it.
If the messages are anything to go by, the President allegedly promised that “will be dealt with”. Mr Mohamed, according to the WhatsApp conversation, thanked the President. “Yes Chief. License call me to register .. chief all sorted. Registration in hand. Thanks”.
Against that background, Mr Mohamed said he was being targeted because of his entry into the political arena. He suggested that Dr Ali should be charged as an accomplice, but instead he allegedly instructed the GRA to seize the car and charge him.
Mr Mohamed has announced that he would be running for the presidency in the September 1, 2025 general and regional elections.
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