When the extradition request hearing for Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed got underway today, the Prosecuting Attorneys accused the father and son of being part of an international criminal enterprise with links to Venezuela, the United States and the Middle East.

The Government of the United States of America has submitted an application to the Guyanese Government to have the father and son extradited to US, where they are facing a total of 11 charges related to wire and mail fraud, and money-laundering.

In Court today, Special Prosecutor, Terrence Williams told Senior Magistrate Judy Latchman that the Mohameds were alleged “criminals” with ties to high offices in Venezuela, and connections in the US and Middle East.

“The gentlemen before you have been engaged in an international criminal enterprise, including tentacles in Venezuela, in high offices in Venezuela; tentacles reaching across the United States of America into the Middle East,” Attorney-at-Law Williams told the Court.

He said information suggests that the Mohameds have been in contact with authorities in Venezuela, and it is suspected that they have been making moves to continue an unlawful enterprise in the neighbouring country.

Looking closer to home, the Attorney told the Court that there is also a concern that the Mohameds could also disrupt peace and security of Guyana with support of Venezuelan elements and criminal elements at home, and therefore should not be granted bail.

Further, he argued that there are witnesses to the crimes which are the subject of the US extradition request, and there is a concern that the Mohameds could tamper with justice.

But the Attorneys for the Mohameds dubbed the Prosecution’s arguments as baseless and without merit.

The lead attorney, Siand Dhurjon told the Court that majority of the allegations placed before the Court were being heard for the first time, and were never the subject of police investigations and or charges in Guyana. He said Williams approached the Court with mere allegations with zero evidence.

“No charges have been laid with respect to the criminal enterprise referenced, and our clients have not even been questioned by the police in that regard,” Dhurjon told the Court.

Alluding to the Venezuelan connection, Dhurjon said the only entity that has sought to link the Mohameds to Venezuela is the Government of Guyana. He singled out the Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo  and friends of the Government as being key to those claims.

Submitting that the case before the Court is a political one intended to bar Azruddin Mohamed from taking up his seat in the National Assembly, Dhurjon also rubbished the claims that the Mohameds were a flight risk.

He pointed out that although the Mohameds were indicted in the US in early October, they have remained in the country.

Rising in support, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde also made a case for bail for the Mohameds.

He said the Government has had the Mohameds under surveillance for an extended period, and the father and son would have no trouble handing over their passports to the Court, and reporting to the Police daily.

He said they were even prepared to be monitored more by the Police.

On hearing the arguments, the Magistrate granted bail in the sum of $150,000 each, while applying two conditions. The accused are required to report to the Ruimveldt Police Station every Friday and they have also been ordered to lodge their passports.

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