Chief Magistrate delays cross-examination of foreign ministry permanent secretary, refuses to adjourn entire case

Last Updated on Thursday, 3 September 2026, 22:51 by Writer

Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman on Thursday deferred further cross-examination of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sharon Roopchand-Edwards in the United States’ extradition request for Azruddin Mohamed and his father Nazar Mohamed.

Her decision was made after hearing a request by defence lawyer Roysdale Forde that aspects of his examination are interconnected with the United Kingdom-United States Extradition Treaty that are also the subject of an appeal before the Guyana Court of Appeal.

“The ruling with respect to the assessment and the effect of the treaty is hereby deferred,” the Chief Magistrate said.

Ms Roopchand would be informed about her return to court.

Ms Latchman said she would rule on the objection raised concerning the assessment of the effect of the treaty at a later date.

Mr Forde succeeded in convincing the Chief Magistrate that the questions he would like to put to the Permanent Secretary covers issues relating to the objection which are composed in the written submissions laid over with the court and the question he has are “so interconnected with that very issue.

“Ultimately the issues in the court of appeal that I’m respectfully asking your worship to exercise a discretion which has not been taken away by the order (of the Guyana Court of Appeal),” he said. 

However, Ms Latchman ruled against the entire case being adjourned, saying that would go against the Guyana Court of Appeal order that the extradition hearing must proceed but the magistrate must withhold her decision until the hearing and determination of the appeal.

“In any event Mr Ford, this court has to abide by the Court of Appeals’ decision, and the matter must proceed. That is the decision of the Court of Appeal, and this court will have to abide by that,” she said.

Mr Forde argued that several aspects of the extradition hearing are interconnected with the appeal.

He cited several sections of the Fugitive Offenders Act to buttress his contention.

In that context, he feared a court of appeal ruling jeopardising the process as far as the need for re-examination is concerned.

The Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch (espionage) department, Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, was called to the witness stand.