Information Americas, Georgetown, Guyana, Jan. 6, 2026: Extradition proceedings in opposition to Guyanese businessman Nazar Mohamed and his son, political chief of the WIN get together and presumed Guyana opposition chief, Azruddin Mohamed, superior on right this moment after a Georgetown Justice of the Peace declined to droop the matter, regardless of the defence submitting an enchantment to the Full Court docket.
Presiding on the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Principal Justice of the Peace Judy Latchman dominated that there was no authorized foundation to pause the committal proceedings, noting that no keep had been granted by a superior courtroom. She subsequently directed the prosecution to start presenting its case.
Earlier within the proceedings, defence attorneys served the courtroom with a Discover of Enchantment difficult a latest Excessive Court docket ruling by Appearing Chief Justice Navindra Singh, which refused an utility to halt the extradition course of. The defence argued that the Justice of the Peace’s courtroom proceedings needs to be suspended pending the willpower of constitutional points raised of their problem to Guyana’s extradition framework.
Justice of the Peace Latchman, nevertheless, maintained that till a keep is formally ordered by the Full Court docket or one other superior tribunal, the committal listening to should proceed. Within the absence of such an order, she dominated, the courtroom was legally obliged to proceed.
Because the case strikes into the evidentiary section, the prosecution is predicted to name its first witness, Sharon Roopchand, Everlasting Secretary at Guyana’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs.
The ruling adopted submissions from the prosecution, led by King’s Counsel Terrence Williams, who argued that the mere submitting of an enchantment doesn’t mechanically droop ongoing extradition proceedings. The Justice of the Peace accepted that place.
The extradition request was initiated by United States authorities, who’re in search of the give up of Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed in reference to federal felony expenses filed within the Southern District of Florida. The allegations relate to purported monetary crimes linked to gold exports, together with fraud and cash laundering offences.
The matter is being heard below Guyana’s Fugitive Offenders Act and an current extradition treaty between Guyana and the USA. Since late 2025, the defence has pursued a number of authorized avenues geared toward delaying or stopping the extradition course of, together with constitutional litigation.
On Monday, Appearing Chief Justice Singh dismissed the applying for a keep, clearing the way in which for proceedings to proceed within the magistrates’ courtroom. Though the defence has since appealed that ruling, no order has been issued suspending the extradition listening to.
Each Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed stay on bail, topic to court-imposed circumstances, because the committal proceedings proceed.
RELATED: Guyana Excessive Court docket Rejects Bid To Halt Extradition Proceedings Towards Nazar And Azruddin
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