Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall has once again expressed his grave concern over the pace of the Extradition Case against Businessman and Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

In an interview with reporters at the High Court today, the Attorney General said while the High Court has concluded a number of cases brought by the Mohameds, including a challenge to sections of the Fugitive Offenders Act, the extradition committal proceedings continue to languish the in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

“What is even more telling is that the Chief Justices’ previous ruling was appealed by the Mohameds and the appellate court has already given directions on how we are to proceed and a date has already been fixed for the presentation of arguments. And yet, the Magistrates’ Court continues to be the subject of deliberate strategies to delay both from the lawyers as well as from the subjects,” Minister Nandlall said.

It is now four months since the extradition proceedings commenced in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. According to the Attorney General, since its commencement, the case has faced multiple delays. 

“You are hearing fabricated medical explanation proffered. You are hearing explanations that one person was admitted to the Hospital, when in fact, when the hospital’s records were checked, the person was never admitted. Photographs are taken with persons on a bed. Then you have another hair raising tale of tyres being slashed, about cars being broken into. All these are deliberate concocted stories to dilate and delay the matter. And unfortunately, they seem to be yielding success in the Magistrates’ Court,” the Attorney General said.

Minister Nandlall said what is worse, is that the Magistrates’ Court “unfortunately” seems “to be lending its imprimatur” to the shenanigans.

Alluding to the recent case involving Ronley Floyd Bynoe, in which he waived his right to challenge a request for him to be extradited to US, the Attorney General said the Bynoe Extradition Case exemplifies how extraditions ought to be done.

He said while Bynoe was remanded to prison pending his extradition to the US for a minor criminal offence, the Mohameds, who are wanted for international financial crimes including money laundering, were granted bail, and their attorneys are now dragging out the process in the Court through lengthy cross-examinations as they attempt to cast aspersions on the motive behind the request.

After more than a month, the first witness – the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs – Sharon Roopchand – remains on the stand.

 “In extradition proceedings the bundle that is the subject of the proceedings emanate from the requesting State. No permanent secretary in Guyana has knowledge or ought to have knowledge of that bundle. It was not prepared in Guyana. It consists of the charge, the indictment and the evidence, all of which took place in the United States, and here is it you have a deliberate attempt being employed to ask the witness one set of questions, that the witness cannot answer, and that is going on ad nauseam,” the Attorney General said.

The committal proceedings in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court has been adjourned to February 26, 2026 when the Prosecution and the Defence are expected to make submissions on whether the case ought to be heard via paper committal or Preliminary Inquiry (PI) to allow for cross-examination.

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