Nazar “Shell” Mohamed denies knowing Justice Gino Persaud

Last Updated on Monday, 21 September 2026, 11:12 by Written By Denis Chabrol

Billionaire Guyanese businessman, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed who, along with his son Azruddin Mohamed are wanted by the United States (US) to face trial for alleged financial crimes, on Monday said they do not know High Court judge, Gino Persaud.

“I want there to be absolutely no ambiguity about our relationship with Justice Gino Persaud. My son and I have never met him, neither as a lawyer nor as a Judge. He has never conducted business with us, or had any personal, professional or social relationship with us. Our only connection is that matters involving our family came before him as a judge of the High Court,” said the elder Mohamed in a statement.

Mr Persaud, who had ruled in their favour concerning alleged multimillion dollar tax evasion civil cases in the High Court, was recently barred from departing for Jamaica  for a judges conference on a flight via Florida because his American visa was under review.

Mr Persaud has not commented one way or another publicly since the news broke.

Mr Mohamed Senior linked  Justice Persaud’s visa woes to public criticisms of the High Court judge by President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Attorney General Anil Nandlall after his ruling in the tax evasion cases on the Lamborghini and Ferrari luxury vehicles.

Against that recent backdrop and historical public criticisms by top government officials and the hiring of American lobbyists to link them to now ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Mr Mohamed said he was doubtful of a fair hearing in Guyana’s courts. He believed that the judiciary could feel intimidated if they were to give a fair decision.