Three hours after issuing an arrest warrant for businessman and Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed over his late arrival for his ongoing extradition case, Principal Magistrate, Judy Latchman, withdrew the arrest warrant and warned Mohamed that his bail could be revoked if his tardiness in attending Court on time continues.

When the case was called at 9 o’clock this morning, all of the Attorneys were present, but the Mohameds were absent. After inquiring from their Attorneys about the absence of Azruddin Mohamed and seeking a medical update on the father, Nazar Mohamed, Magistrate Judy Latchman issued the arrest warrant.

Mohamed arrived at Court 35 minutes after the start time. By then, the Magistrate had already moved on from the case. He was taken into custody at the Courthouse on the arrest warrant.

His Attorneys initially sought the intervention of the Acting Chief Magistrate, but she directed that the matter be taken back to the Courtroom of the Principal Magistrate.

The Attorneys filed an application for the arrest warrant to be reversed as Mohamed remained in the custody of the Police at the Court.

Magistrate Latchman, upon hearing the application, said she was inclined to remand Mohamed to prison but instead opted to “temper justice with mercy.”

She said under the Court’s watch, the wheels of justice will continue to turn in a timely manner, adding that the Court is not monopoly. She told Mohamed that she would not be tolerating his excuses, making it clear to him that he has to be punctual for his Court matters.

Mohamed apologized profusely to the Court, telling the Principal Magistrate that he will not be late for Court again. He said it was his intention to arrive at Court on time, but he was informed by his driver this morning that the tyres to his car were damaged, thereby delaying his arrival at the Court.

Mohamed explained further that while he has a number of vehicles, he has been unable to renew the insurance for the vehicles due to the actions of the Government, but Magistrate Latchman told him, she will not tolerate his excuses.

“Now, all my vehicles, the insurance companies they are not renewing the insurances because of the wicked, vindictive, treacherous PPP Government instructed them not to renew my insurances. I have to depend on some of my staff to use their vehicles, like what I have been using for the past couple weeks or even months. So, this morning, something strange happened. He called me, the driver, and he told me both tyres are slashed on the car, and this is not the first time it happened,” Mohamed told reporters.

According to him, a similar incident occurred several weeks ago, when one of the tyres on his drivers’ car was slashed.

“I suspect that the special branch, the arm of the Guyana Police Force headed by the PPP again, they did this purposefully so I can arrive to court late,” he said.

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde told reporters that he was taken aback by the decision of the Court in the first instance to issue an arrest warrant for Mr. Mohamed, when he is usually on time for Court.

 “I am very surprised that the Magistrate would have taken the position in the first place escheat his bail effectively and to issue an arrest warrant. Today, firstly was a report date, not a date fixed for the Prosecution to bring witnesses, for the continuation of the matter. Secondly, a part from the time when Mr. Mohamed arrived 2 minutes late at 9:02, he would have been here present on each and every occasion, and on a timely manner,” Forde.

He said before the application was made to the acting Chief Magistrate, the Defense Attorneys sought an audience with the Principal Magistrate with the hope of having the arrest warrant reversed but they were unsuccessful.

It was after their initial efforts to be heard by the Magistrate Latchman failed, that an application was made to the acting Chief Magistrate but the application was fiercely rejected by Attorney-at-Law Glen Hanoman, who forms part of the team representing the interest of the US in the extradition proceedings.

Hanoman argued that it was not within remit of the acting Chief Magistrate to hear the application or reverse the arrest warrant, pointing out that it is for Magistrate Latchman to do so.

Upon hearing arguments from both sides, Magistrate Mc Gusty ordered Hanoman to make contact with the Principal Magistrate to ascertain whether she had refused to hear the Defense Team in the first place. It was then that Magistrate Latchman agreed to entertain the application, and reverse the arrest warrant.

Lead Counsel for the Prosecution, Terrence Williams, told reporters that he was concerned about the frequent delays, noting that Mr. Mohamed ought to have been present in Court on time.

“It is important that people endeavor to attend court when required and if you have a problem to alert the court and your lawyers, defendants, counsel, and you can’t expect the court’s business to be delayed because of your absence,” he said.

The case was adjourned to February 18, 2026 for report on the health of Nazar Mohamed, who remains ill.

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