Attorneys representing Guyanese Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, prominent billionaire businessman Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed, have petitioned the Court of Appeal to suspend ongoing extradition proceedings in the magistrate’s court. The Mohameds face fraud and related charges in the United States and seek a stay pending their substantive appeal of a High Court ruling that validated the Authority to Proceed (ATP) with their extradition.
The legal team, comprising Roysdale Forde, Siand Dhurjon, and Damien Da Silva, contends that without an immediate suspension, the magistrate court proceedings could conclude within a month—potentially rendering their appeal moot and resulting in their clients’ detention. They argue that Chief Justice Navindra Singh’s dismissal of their initial challenge contained multiple legal and factual errors that compromised justice.
Central to their appeal is the allegation of governmental persecution and bias within the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic-led administration. The lawyers assert that Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond and Attorney General Anil Nandlall operated with ‘presumed and apparent bias,’ violating natural justice principles by acting as judges in their own cause. They maintain that the ATP—which empowers Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman to conduct committal hearings—is fundamentally flawed and should be quashed.
The Mohameds, sanctioned by the US Treasury for alleged gold smuggling and tax evasion, face an 11-count indictment including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering. Their legal team argues that the extradition process jeopardizes their fundamental rights and that the Minister’s impartiality is indispensable for a fair hearing. They claim their appeal demonstrates a strong prima facie case and that neither the US nor Guyanese authorities would suffer prejudice from a stay.