“He lacks integrity, a modicum of decency” – VP on Azruddin Mohamed’s duplicity

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo unleashed a blistering critique of US-sanctioned, Azruddin Mohamed, pointing out that he is a man “without integrity” who consistently lies, contradicts himself, and shamelessly insults others while embroiled in a web of scandal.
During his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo referenced the widely circulated video in which Mohamed boasted of paying US$1 million for a Lamborghini, while attempting to produce a GRA invoice claiming it cost only US$75,000.

Jagdeo emphasized that Mohamed’s recent claims implicating President Irfaan Ali in covering up tax evasion were hollow and unsupported; part of what he described as a long-standing pattern of attention-seeking deception.
“This is the guy… who lacks integrity. He lacks even a modicum of decency, much less integrity. He lies openly. Every time he opens his mouth, he contradicts himself. This is a really stupid person, really stupid person. He contradicts himself every time in the face of the evidence that he himself put out there. And he expects people to believe him,” Jagdeo said.
The Vice President was also incensed by what he described as selective outrage from civil society organizations like Transparency Institute Guyana Incorporated (TIGI), which have called for clarification from the President about trivial social media posts but have been silent on the serious issue of gold smuggling and alleged tax evasion involving the Mohamed family.
“So, we are not afraid of him. I see that’s what they like to say. Look at the PPP. That’s why so many people are joining the PPP, becoming the PPP. You think if they thought we were going to lose the elections, they’d become it?… He is not going to make any difference whatsoever,” he added.
Earlier this week, President Dr Irfaan Ali rejected attempts by United States (US)-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed to link him to an alleged tax evasion scheme currently under judicial scrutiny.
Mohamed, who is before the courts for allegedly undervaluing a Lamborghini and submitting falsified documentation to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), has sought to implicate the President in the matter. However, President Ali on Monday categorically denied any involvement and condemned the businessman’s claims as deceitful.
“My number is no secret. It is the same number I have had in and out of Government, so having my number is nothing special. Thousands of Guyanese continue to contact me on various matters,” the Head of State stated in a public response.
Refuting Mohamed’s narrative, President Ali clarified that at no point did the businessman present to him nor the GRA with the actual invoice reflecting the vehicle’s true value, which is now confirmed to be US$695,000.
“As I stated before, at no time did Azruddin Mohamed present any invoice for US$695,000, which we now know is the true and correct value of the car,” the President said. “Instead, he reaffirmed and confirmed his lies that the invoice he shared and presented to GRA was US$75,000.”
Ali further noted that official findings have revealed a pattern of financial transactions that support the US$695,000 valuation, directly contradicting Mohamed’s continued insistence that the vehicle was acquired for US$75,000.
“This is the matter before us. Did he lie about the value he presented as the purchased price of the vehicle? The answer is yes,” President Ali asserted. “Based on the facts now presented by the US authorities, he did lie and presented a falsified invoice to the GRA.”
The President said Mohamed never disclosed the vehicle’s actual cost to him nor to the relevant tax authorities and continues to maintain the inaccurate figure, despite mounting evidence.
Ali declined to engage with personal attacks levelled against him by Mohamed, describing them as reflective of the businessman’s character.
Mohamed was sanctioned by the US in 2024 under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

Charged
Mohamed was placed on $500,000 bail for tax evasion and fraudulent declaration charges in relation to the purchase of a Lamborghini Roadster SVJ.
Mohamed appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty on May 29 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where he answered to the two charges brought by GRA, false declaration to the GRA and fraudulent tax evasion.
The first charge alleged that the 39-year-old on or about December 7, 2020, caused to be made and subscribed, a false declaration to the GRA when he stated on the GRA’s custom declaration form that the purchased amount for the Lamborghini was US$75,300, instead of the true purchase price of US$695,000.