A pivotal judicial decision awaits Guyanese opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed, as Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman prepares to rule on December 10 regarding their potential extradition to the United States. The case centers on whether the US request for extradition on alleged financial crimes will be referred to Guyana’s High Court based on constitutional considerations.
The magistrate is expected to adjudicate multiple constitutional arguments presented by the Mohameds’ legal team, who are challenging the validity of amendments made to the Fugitive Offenders Act in 2009. Defense lawyer Roysdale Forde characterized these amendments as unconstitutional, stating they fundamentally altered Guyana’s extradition landscape following a previous High Court ruling that had struck down significant portions of the existing legislation.
Prosecutors have submitted extensive evidence, including an 11-count US indictment accusing the Mohameds of wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering related to their gold trading operations. However, the defense team expressed concerns about receiving redacted documents just one month before the deadline, with attorney Siand Dhurjon describing the situation as nearing an ‘ambush’ by the prosecution.
Lead prosecutor Terrence Williams, a Jamaican legal expert, dismissed allegations of procedural unfairness while emphasizing his team’s readiness to proceed with the extradition hearing. The court has established a strict timeline requiring defense submissions by December 5, followed by oral arguments on December 8 ahead of the magistrate’s final ruling.
The outcome will determine whether Guyana’s judicial system will allow the extradition process to advance, potentially setting significant legal precedents regarding constitutional protections in international criminal proceedings.