The committal hearing in the extradition matter involving Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, continued on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Judy Latchman.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sharon Roopchand, remained on the witness stand as cross-examination continued by defence counsel Siand Dhurjon.
During questioning, Roopchand confirmed that she received the first extradition documents on October 30, 2025, while serving as Permanent Secretary. She also confirmed that she has since received another extradition request from the United States, which she said was received on November 26, 2025.
Defence counsel attempted to question Roopchand on whether court proceedings were initiated in relation to that later request, but the prosecution objected on grounds of relevance. Magistrate Latchman upheld the objection and disallowed the question.
Roopchand also confirmed that the extradition request involving the Mohameds was the first time she personally received an extradition request from the United States. She further testified that upon receiving the documents on the night of October 30, 2025, she immediately took them to the Minister of Home Affairs.
Under questioning, Roopchand denied suggestions that she was instructed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd to urgently take the documents to the minister in order to facilitate a rapid order. She maintained that she acted based on protocols she was advised of when she entered the ministry.
She further confirmed she was aware through news reports that the Mohameds were sanctioned by the United States government in 2024, and said she was also aware that their licences were not renewed after the sanctions. Roopchand also acknowledged that, in a previous role within government, she had been involved in processes related to gold export licences, including approvals during the period 2020 to 2025.
The defence continued to advance its position that the actions taken following receipt of the extradition request were politically motivated and biased against Azruddin Mohamed, and suggested that the United States government may have acted as an agent of the Guyanese government.
During the proceedings, Magistrate Latchman expressed concern over some aspects of the line of questioning and asked defence counsel whether he was certain he wanted certain matters placed on the court record.
According to her, defence counsel Dhurjon’s suggestions meant a “net has been cast wide,” implying that the political motivation claims now extend beyond the Guyana Government to include the United States Government and even elements of the US judicial system.
Later, when questioned by a reporter, Dhurjon repeated that the Mohameds’ legal team was questioning the integrity of the US justice system.
The prosecution’s lead attorney, Terrence Willians, in answering a question from a reporter, pointed out that all extraditions have political and judicial elements, since extraditions are made by and requested of governments.
The Mohameds were sanctioned in 2024 on a range of financial crimes and were later indicted by the US government. It was announced that he was forming a political party and intended to run for political office.
A federal grand jury in Miami returned an indictment on Oct. 2 charging Azruddin Mohamed and his father with participating in a multi-year scheme to evade millions of dollars in taxes and royalties owed to the Government of Guyana through fraudulent gold export practices and related money laundering activities. Other indictments followed.
The extradition matter in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court was adjourned to February 9 at 9:00 hrs, and will continue on February 11 and February 12 at 9:00 hrs.
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