US extradition request for Mohamed’s: Magistrate rejects defence’s “fishing expedition”; no further disclosures allowed 

As the extradition proceedings of the United States-indicted Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, continued on Thursday, Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman refused to grant a request by the defence for further disclosures in the case.
After more than a week’s adjournment, the case resumed on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, following the defence’s appeal at the Court of Appeal to stall the proceedings.
On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal declined to grant an order to stay the extradition proceedings against the father-son duo, thus clearing the way for the hearing to continue in the Magistrates’ Courts.
With respect to the substantive appeal, which challenges the February 4 decision by acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh, who dismissed their case challenging the Authority to Proceed (ATP) issued by Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond on grounds of alleged bias, a decision will be handed down on March 17.
The acting chief justice had rejected arguments of bias and found that the Minister of Home Affairs acted in an executive capacity as prescribed by law and not in a judicial or quasi-judicial role.

“Fishing expedition”
However, during the hearing on Thursday, the defence made another request, this time for the disclosure of contracts between the Government of Guyana and United States-based lobbying firms, which was immediately shut down by the presiding Magistrate.
In giving her decision, the Magistrate said that the defence’s “fishing expedition” will not be allowed.
Back in January, Magistrate Judy Latchman ruled that the prosecution would not be allowed to tender any further disclosure in the extradition proceedings.
The ruling came following strong objections from the defence over what they described as late and piecemeal disclosure by the United States. In light of that previous ruling, the Magistrate upheld her decision on Thursday regarding additional disclosures to be made.
Nevertheless, the court continued to hear testimony from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, who spoke about receiving the extradition documents relating to the Mohameds.
During her evidence, she was asked several questions by Siand Dhurjon about the Government’s relationship with lobbying firms in the United States and their involvement in matters connected to the extradition request.
She told the court that she was aware that the Government had contracts with two USA-based lobbying firms – Continental Strategy LLC and DR Consulting – but noted that she has never been in communication with any individual from the firms.
Roopchand also stated that after the extradition request documents were received on October 30, 2025, they were opened in her presence. “It was unsealed when it was handed to me by the marshal. The Marshal opened it in my presence and handed it to me. The envelope was opened in my presence.”
Sanctioned Nazar Mohamed, 72, and Azruddin Mohamed, 39, were indicted in a US court in October 2025.
American prosecutors alleged that the two men were involved in a long-running operation involving the export of gold in a manner designed to avoid paying taxes and royalties owed to the Government of Guyana.
Prosecutors allege that from 2017 to 2024, official Government seals taken from a single legitimate gold shipment were reused to validate several additional shipments.
United States authorities estimate that the alleged scheme resulted in approximately US$50 million in lost revenue for the Guyanese state.
Nazar Mohamed is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and mail fraud.
Azruddin Mohamed faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud and is also accused of avoiding more than US$1 million in taxes linked to the importation of a Lamborghini from Miami to Guyana.
Meanwhile, the cross-examination of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, will continue today. Two other witnesses are also expected to be presented by the prosecution.