Mohameds allowed to establish political motivation behind processing US extradition request

Last Updated on Friday, 6 February 2026, 22:24 by Writer

Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman on Friday allowed billionaire gold dealers Azruddin Mohamed and his father Nazar “Shell”Mohamed to grill a top Guyana government representative in an effort to establish that the processing of the United States (US) extradition request was politically motivated.

Defence Lawyer, Siand Dhurjon told the court that his side had evidence that the Guyana government paid more than US$700,000 to a lobbying firm in the United States “specifically to advocate for the vilification of Azruddin Mohamed and his father and their extradition.

The Mohameds are wanted by the US to face trial for wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering linked to their gold trading business. 

“So it’s a matter of agency. In this case, the US government has acted as agent of the Guyana government towards an improper political motive,” he told the court, acknowledging that the political motive extended to the US.

Asked by the magistrate whether he wanted his claims to be recorded, Mr Dhurjon answered in the affirmative.

But the prosecutor for the US, Herbert McKenzie said the issue of the mal-intent of the political activity is not a matter that can be put in a single circumstance. “It’s putting to her that she’s a part of a country, a political event, a political activity, political motives. Is it proper?” he asked.

The magistrate allowed the questions because the net had now been cast extending to the US.

Despite several objections by Prosecutor McKenzie on the grounds of relevance, Mr Dhurjon, primarily representing Mr Azruddin, was allowed to ask Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards several questions about her connections to President Irfaan Ali and her several government appointments.

Asked by the magistrate about the relevant of a number of those questions and whether one could not have friends and be professional, Mr Dhurjon said that could not be when a friend is leader that resulted in an overwhelming influence.

The magistrate then asked him what that had to do with the extradition papers that came from the US. He replied. “Madam, it has to do with the fact that this witness is dishonest about the chain of custody of the extradition documents that she is so involved and so dedicated to the government’s cause that she would take all steps, whatever steps she felt were needed,” he said. 

The Permanent Secretary was also asked questions to establish that she possibly fast-tracked the personal hand-over of the extradition request to Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond who then issued the Authority To Proceed (ATP) for the committal hearing currently underway.

In rebutting one of Mr McKenzie’s objections, Mr Dhurjon said his line of questioning was aimed at establishing that the extradition request was founded on collaboration between the American and Guyanese governments as part of a plot to go after the Mohameds for political reasons.

Mr Azruddin subsequently formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party that won 16 of the 29 opposition seats and he has since become Guyana’s Leader of the Opposition.

Ms Roopchand-Edwards admitted under oath that she and her sister knew Dr Irfaan Ali for several years and they had been appointed to government positions over the years, and that she was part of “some” government outreaches in 2025 which included President Ali but could not recall exactly when.

She also said that she was a member of the Guyana Gold Board and played a role in the approval of gold export licences for the Mohameds between 2020 to 2025.

She also said she could not recall specifics about government’s communication that the Mohameds should have no gold export license and she could not recall Vice President Jagdeo saying that Mr Azruddin was a gold smuggler, he stole a large amount of taxes, he’s a criminal, and that he would be held to account for all his criminal behavior.

She said through social media and many news pieces she read or heard the Attorney General make similar negative comments about the Mohameds but could not specifically say when exactly they were made before October 2025. 

She could not recall that Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd made allegations that the Mohameds had connections with then Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro,and that Mr Todd had said that the elder Mohamed visited the Venezuelan Embassy.

Ms Roopchand-Edwards said she was aware of public utterances over the past several months by the President, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister Todd. Specifically, she said she was aware that the President had spoken a lot of things about Mr Azruddin’s bid for the Presidency.

She, however, said she could not recall that President Ali last July had said that Azruddin Mohamed was a threat to Guyana’s national security, but “I have seen some statements like that” that Mr Mohamed was a gold smuggler and defrauded the state of taxes.

The Permanent Secretary acknowledged that since receiving the extradition request for the Mohameds on October 30, 2025, she had received one other on November 26.

The magistrate did not allow a subsequent question by Mr Dhurjon on whether the Permanent Secretary was aware that proceedings were brought to court in that matter.

But Mr Dhurjon said it was relevant. “Part of the defense is that the proceedings have been politically motivated. It goes to show whether other requests have even received a charge to proceed as yet.”