The Mohameds’ extradition case ongoing in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court took an unexpected turn today when Attorney for Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed imputed that both the US and Guyana Governments have a political interest in wanting the father and son extradited under the pretext that they were allegedly  involved in mail and wire fraud, money laundering and customs related crimes.

In an attempt to invoke Section 8 of the Fugitive Offenders Act, Defence Attorney Siand Dhurjon told the Principal Magistrate, Judy Latchman that the issue of political motive is not limited to the Government of Guyana, but also extends to the Government of the United States.

According to Section 8, a person shall not to be extradited if the request, though framed as relating to an extraditable offence, is in fact made for the purpose of prosecuting and or punishing a person because of his or her political opinion.

Dhurjon told the Court that Guyana might have motivated the the US to request the extradition of the Billionaire Businessmen.

Declaring that he has the evidence to prove his position, the Defence Attorney submitted to the Court that the Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, paid a lobby firm in Washington to lobby Officials in the US Government to target the Mohameds.  

“We have evidence madam that the Guyanese Government went as far as paying over US$700,000 to a lobbying firm in the United States, which has access to every president of the United States, the Secretary of State of the United States, and that this lobbying firm was paid specifically to advocate for the vilification of Azruddin Mohamed and his father for their extradition,” Dhurjon told the Court.

He argued that the US Government has acted as an agent of the Guyana Government. It was explained that documentary evidence indicates that the lobbying firm drafted tweets targeting the Mohameds, and sent those to the US Congress men and women, and were subsequently shared. He said the tweets had a nefarious motive and sought to link the Mohameds to Venezuela. One tweet, he said described the Mohameds as a “Maduro Puppet.”

Outside the Court, he justified his argument.

“I think the case is clear where the Government uses the juggernaut of government, the almighty government, uses the very machinery of State to try to send away its political opponent. Spends hundreds of thousands of US dollars, hires the finest lobbyist that money could buy to achieve its aim. The Government can achieve its aim so we are only highlighting these things to put them on the record for the court’s benefit,” Dhurjon told reporters.

He admitted to reporters that two years ago when the Mohameds were sanctioned by the US, the younger Mohamed was not a political opponent of the Government; However, he said it was not until late last year that the extradition request was submitted.

Meanwhile, much to the objection of Prosecutor Herbert McKenzie, Dhurjon accused the first witness – Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sharon Roopchand of being dishonest about the chain of custody with regards to the Diplomatic Note and bundle of documents received from the US.

Dhurjon today sought to establish that Roopchand was politically corrupt, but McKenzie objected, telling the Court that the Defence line of questioning in that regard was unmeritorious.

Under-cross examination today, Roopchand told the Court that she knew President, Irfaan Ali long before his assumption to office.

Roopchand said that in the lead up to the 2025 Elections, she did not attend political rallies. However, she said that in her official capacity, she attended Government outreaches, all of which were attended by the President.

The Court also heard that Roopchand, who served as the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, served on a number of Boards, including the Guyana Gold Board from 2021 to 2025, the Guyana Real Estate Authority and the Guyana Revenue Authority’s Customs Tariff Tribunal.

Roopchand, while being grilled by Dhurjon, said she learned through the news that the Mohameds, who at the time were gold dealers and exporters, had been sanctioned by the US, but couldn’t recall the year.

She was grilled extensively on statements made by the President, Vice President, the Attorney General and the Minister of Foreign Affairs accusing the Mohameds of engaging in criminal act. While Roopchand could not provide specifics with regards to what was said by whom, and when, she said aspects of the statements were negative.

Lead Prosecutor, Terrence Williams told reporters that he is pleased that the case is moving along.

“The questioning has been extensive, some of it repetitive, but we are pressing along. The evidence that supports the request is in, it has been in since yesterday and we have dates next week for continuation, and so we are hoping that this witness would be completed and we can move onto another one,” Williams told reporters.

The case has been adjourned to February 9, 2026 when Roopchand is expected to return to the witness stand.

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