Chief Magistrate rejects bid to revoke Mohamed’s Bail

Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman today ruled that there is no basis for the Court to revoke the bail granted to businessman and Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed, shortly after the Prosecution in his extradition case extradition reported alleged breaches to his bail condition over the Police investigation into his presence near the private home of the President.

Prosecuting Attorney, Glenn Hannoman informed the Court this morning that the Guyana Police Force has launched a serious investigation into activities carried out near the private residence of President Irfaan Ali in Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara.

The Court heard that Mohamed and at least two other persons were questioned about their presence near the President’s home with drone equipment.

Hanoman told the Court that there is no evidence “as yet” to suggest that the drone was in use, but photographs on the cell phones seized suggest that Mohamed was in the parameter of the President’s house.

“The cell phones that have been recovered, the police are processing the materials in the cell phone to try and determine whether they were doing surveillance, and try to figure out what was being planned. Now, your worship you know that Mr. Azruddin Mohamed is the Leader of the Opposition, and perhaps he is interested in the presidency. We were wondering whether those offences may perhaps include treason, an attempted coup, maybe an attempted assignation. The police have told me this and they are investigating all of that,” Hanoman told the Court.

He said in light of this development, it was important for the Court to consider whether Mohamed would have breached conditions laid out in the Bail Act.

But the Chief Magistrate shut down the request, ruling instead that there was no basis for the Court to revoke the bail granted to Mr. Mohamed in the extradition proceedings.

“It is university known that the Court cannot act on what is known, and can only act on what is proven. There is no basis for this Court to revoke the bail of Mr. Azruddin Mohamed at this stage. In the circumstances, he remains on bail with bail conditions attached,” Chief Magistrate Latchman ruled.

Ahead of the Chief Magistrate’s ruling, Mohamed’s Attorney, Siand Dhurjon reminded the Court that his client is the Leader of the Opposition, and at the time that he was apprehended by the police last evening, he was responding to information received regarding a plot of land allegedly purchased by the President through a shell company Sea Spray Holding Inc.

“Yesterday evening around 6pm, the Leader of the Opposition was responding to information received that the President had purchased a 1 acre land adjoining his private residence in Leonora for over $200 million through a shell company by the name of Sea Spray Holdings Inc,” the Court

Dhurjon told the Court that the Opposition Leader was acting in according with his conditional function and duties to inquire into these allegations. He said the Leader of the Opposition has a moral, legal and political obligation to have been at the location last night.

The Court heard that it was more than 15 minutes after the Opposition Leader left the area that the police intercepted him, and then escorted him and others to the police station where three of the vehicles were impounded.

“I don’t know what kind of country we are descending into but we do not have kings in this country. This is a democracy,” Dhurjon said.

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, who is also representing Mr. Mohamed said Hanoman has been constantly making attempts to have Mohamed’s bail revoked.

Hanoman later told the Court that he was relying on information provided by the police.

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