Opposition Leader faces looming murder charge; prosecution seeks bail revocation again

Last Updated on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, 11:12 by Written By Denis Chabrol

Amid fresh efforts by the prosecution in the United States (US) extradition request hearing for Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s bail to be revoked, the court was told Tuesday morning that he was likely to be charged with murder.

After listening to lengthy submissions by lawyer Glen Hanoman, one of the prosecutors for the US in the extradition case, Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman said she would hand down her decision before the morning session concludes.

Mr Hanoman is relying 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.

Mr Hanoman 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.

Defence lawyer Roysdale Forde laid over several precedent cases on the question of bail revocation for the magistrate to consider before her ruling. Among them is one by the European Court dealing with an Opposition Leader

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.