Mohameds’ extradition hearing must continue, while appeal of constitutionality Fugitive Offenders Act is heard

Last Updated on Thursday, 27 August 2026, 19:10 by Denis Chabrol

The Guyana Court of Appeal on Thursday ordered that magistrate court hearings for the extradition of Azruddin Mohamed and his father Nazar “Shell” Mohamed must continue next month, while their appeal of a High Court decision on the  constitutionality of the Fugitive Offenders Act proceeds.

In its decision, the Court of Appeal judges unanimously ruled that “having considered the arguability of the appeal, the respective risks of injustice, the balance of convenience, prejudice and the public interest in the orderly and expeditious conduct of extradition proceedings, “the Court is not satisfied that those proceedings should be halted entirely.”

“It is, however, just in the circumstances to preserve the effectiveness of the appeal by permitting the proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court to continue while staying the final disposition pending the hearing and determination of the appeal,” the court presided over by the Chancellor of the Judiciary Roxane George-Wiltshire and Justices of Appeal Rishi Persaud and Nareshwar Harnanan state in their decision.

The Court of Appeal also said the magistrate’s court must withhold its decision until the hearing and determination of the Mohameds’ appeal which essentially asks the court to find that their extradition to the United States (US) to stand trial for alleged financial crimes would be unconstitutional. “It is hereby ordered that the extradition proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court involving the Appellants are to proceed, howsoever, that the final disposition of the said proceedings by the presiding Magistrate is stayed until the hearing and determination of this appeal,” the order states.

Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman has set September 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 for all-day hearings of the extradition request by the US for the duo to be trialled in a Florida Federal court for alleged wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering linked to their gold trading business.

The case management directions issued by the Court of Appeal are the Mohameds must file the record of appeal on or before Friday 4 September 2026 and  file written submissions on or before Wednesday 9 September 2026. The Attorney General has been directed to file written submissions on or before Wednesday 23 September 2026.

The appeal is fixed for hearing on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 9:30 hrs, in person, at the Court Room in the new wing of the Court of Appeal.

The Mohameds are represented by lawyers Roysdale Forde, Siand Dhurjon and Damien DaSilva, while the respondents are represented by Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, Deputy Solicitor General Shoshana Lall, and other lawyers Joshua Cullen and Dishon Persaud.