BREAKING: Chief Magistrate again refuses to revoke Azruddin Mohamed’s bail

Last Updated on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, 12:06 by Written By Denis Chabrol

Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman on Tuesday, for a second straight day, refused to revoke Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s bail pending the outcome of a hearing of a United States extradition request for him and his father to face trial for alleged financial crimes.

Ms Latchman also told prosecutor for the US, Glen Hanoman, who applied for revocation, that he could resort to supporting his application with affidavits.

“I do not find any substantial ground for revoking the bail of Mr. Azruddin Mohamed, indeed there are a string of offences or charges that are now engaged in the courts in Guyana and Mr. Azruddin Mohamed is independent in those matters.

Mr Hanoman had relied on several sections of the Bail Act dealing with committing an offence while on bail other than offence punishable only by fine; the defendant is charged or likely to be charged with a serious offence “in relation to the pending murder charge”, interference with witnesses, tamper with evidence or otherwise obstruct the course of justice in relation to the defendant or any other persons.

“However charges by themselves without more do not satisfy the court that Mr. Mohamed has committed an offence or is likely to commit an offence. There must be something substantial that elevates a charge to satisfy the court that the defendant has committed an offence or is likely to commit an offence,” she said in her decision.

The Chief Magistrate said there must be something on the record that will satisfy the court that the defendant has committed an offence or is likely to commit an offence. She added that in the extradition hearing before her court, she was not satisfied that bail should be revoked based on defendant charges.” Breaches must be proven, breaches have not been established. There is no evidence that Mr. Azruddin Mohamed is a flight risk,” she added.

Concerning Mr Hanoman’s contention that Mr Mohamed misled the court about his residency, the Chief Magistrate said “there is no solid evidence” that he did not reside at the address he provided to the court or he gave a false address to that court.

Mr Hanoman had also contextualised the basis for his bail revocation on allegations before the court in other cases such as interference of police intelligence chief senior superintendent Prem Narine, tampered with evidence in the form of police Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) video footage and obstructing the course of justice.

On Monday, the Chief Magistrate refused to revoke the bail on the extradition case by another lawyer for the US, Jamaican Herbert Mc Kenzie.  Mr Mohamed remains incarcerated at the Lusignan Prison on a cyber crime charge of obtaining and giving police Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) video that amounted to national security data.

Two policemen have also been charged with that offence.

After the Chief Magistrate’s ruling on Monday, Mr Mohamed’s mother applied for bail to be granted to her son and assured that she would ensure he attends court.