After a failed attempt by one of the Attorneys for Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed to get an adjournment in their extradition matter before the Court, the case continued before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman this morning at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sharon Roopchand, returned to the witness box and was grilled on the official documents received from the United States requesting the extradition of the father and son.

In her earlier testimony, Roopchand told the Court that on October 30, 2025, she received a package containing a bundle of documents and a diplomatic note from the United States of America, which included an extradition request for Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed.

Today, while being cross-examined by Attorney Siand Dhurjon, the Permanent Secretary was asked to authenticate the Diplomatic Note and the bundle of documents she received.

While she was able to identify key markings on the documents, such as the name of the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio; the US Department of State stamp; and the colour of the ribbons on the documents, Roopchand admitted to the Court that the information provided during her testimony was not disclosed in her statement.

Such information included the official number affixed to the Diplomatic Note received from the US State Department or the presence of the ribbons.

Dhurjon suggested to Roopchand that she was really not the person who received the Diplomatic Note and the bundle of documents, but rather it was the clerks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She however, rejected the suggestion.

The Permanent Secretary told the Court that she received the documents from a Marshall and three officers from the US Embassy while at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the night of October 30. According to her, the Marshall showed her his badge and Identification card.

But when pressed for names, Roopchand told the Court that she could not recall the name of the Marshall nor the three officials from the US Embassy.

She was also unable to provide the Court with the exact date she received the documents, or any documentation with regards to the time of the night that she handed over the documents to the Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Waldron.

Outside the Court, Dhurjon told reporters it was important to put those questions to the witness.

“Those questions are of every fundamental importance because in a case such as this, which turns on documents, it has to be set out beyond reasonable doubts that the documents are authentic,” Dhurjon told reporters.

At the start of today’s hearing, Dhurjon made an application for the case to be adjourned on the grounds that as Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed is consumed with the ongoing Budget debates in the National Assembly, but that application was rejected by the Principal Magistrate, Judy Latchman.

Dhurjon explained that Mohamed, in his capacity as Opposition Leader, is actively engaged in the National Budget Debates. He pointed out that as was the case every day, the Budget Debates on Wednesday finished at midnight.

“It is his Constitutional duty matter as Leader of the Opposition and as a Member of Parliament to be able to dedicate his focus and his energies, at least during this period, which is this week and next week because next week as well, they will be involved in the consideration of estimates, line by line,” Dhurjon said.

He said it would have been in the public’s interest for the case to be adjourned to a date following the conclusion of the Budget Debates and the consideration of the Estimates.

Dhurjon told reporters that by requesting the adjournment of the case, he was not attempting to invoke any special privilege for the Leader of the Opposition.

“We are seeking no privilege which is special but only the treatment which is normally given to ordinary citizens even. This afternoon I have a matter with a Member of Parliament, the Member of Parliament has already written the court for a date. There is lot more to it than going to Parliament and reciting a speech. Azruddin Mohamed has to go and coordinate all of the speeches of the Members of Parliament,” Dhurjon explained.

The Lead Prosecutor, Terrence Williams, who is representing the interest of the US in the matter, objected to the request and agreed with the ruling of the Magistrate.

“The sitting of Parliament does not conflict with the sitting of the court, and there is a need to press the matter along and given that there is no conflict and the dates in court were set long ago, we felt and the court agreed that the matter should proceed as scheduled,” he told reporters.

The committal hearing will continue at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

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