As the extradition proceedings involving the Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father Nazar Mohamed continued in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court today, the Court heard that the Special Branch of the Guyana Police Force has no written policy on the destruction of documents on the work of its officers, including the Head.

In his earlier testimony, the Head of the Special Branch, Senior Superintendent Prem Narine told the Court that he shredded and burnt a notebook containing key evidence of the events that unfolded on October 31, 2025 when the Mohameds were arrested following a request by the U.S to have them extradited.

The book, according to Narine, included details of a meeting between a United States (US) Marshal and the Mohameds following their arrest.

Today, as he was being cross-examined by Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, Mr. Narine testified that while there is no written policy on the destruction of records by ranks of the Special Branch, there is a policy in place.

“It is not a written policy but it is a policy,” Narine said in response to a question posed by Forde on whether a written policy existed when he took over as the Head of Special Branch in 2024.

The Court also heard that since 2024, Narine as the Head of Special Branch also did not enforce written policies to guide the destruction of records.

According to him, Standing Order 50 of the Guyana Police Force and the Declaration under the Secrets Act authorized him to create such a policy for the destruction of records.

 According to that Standing Order, the Special Branch falls under the control and direction of an Assistant Commissioner, and is primarily an intelligence organization.

Though the Standing Order outlines the duties and responsibilities of the Special Branch including the limited offences it can investigate and prosecute, Narine told the Court that as the acting Assistant Commissioner, he is responsible for the efficient administration of the Special Branch under Standing Order 50 (3) and can develop policies to guide the operations of the Unit including the destruction of documents.  

“I act for an Assistant Commissioner and as a result Standing Order 50 applies to me, particularly 3(A) and (B),” Narine told the Court as he was grilled by Forde.

According to him, his pocketbook which was shredded and burnt fell under Standing Order 50.

“It is a policy to destroy records, which if left unattended gets into the wrong hands which may cause a threat to life of informants and operatives of Special Branch,” Narine told the Court as he justified his decision.

Narine remains under cross-examination. He has been on the stand since September 3, 2026. When the case resumes on November 23, the Special Branch Head is expected to return to the stand.

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