By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News |
Lead Prosecutor Terrence Williams has moved to clarify the legal underpinnings of extradition in Guyana after a courtroom revelation on Friday, February 6, confirmed that a second, unrelated extradition request from the United States has been in the government’s possession since November 2025.
The disclosure by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, has fueled defense arguments that the case against Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed is being “politically fast-tracked” while other requests remain dormant.
“Inherently Political” but Judicially Sound
Responding to the defense’s claims of political bias, Prosecutor Williams told reporters outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court that, while extradition is a state-to-state diplomatic process, the determination remains firmly in the hands of the judiciary.
“Every extradition is, in a sense, politically motivated because it is based on a treaty between two political states,” Williams explained. “It is an agreement between the Government of Guyana and the Government of the United States to cooperate in the fight against crime. That is a policy decision, and it’s not surprising that it involves political authorities.”
Williams emphasized that the involvement of the Minister of Home Affairs or Foreign Affairs in signing certificates is a statutory requirement and does not diminish the court’s role in ensuring legal thresholds—such as dual criminality and prima facie evidence—are met.
The Mystery of the November Request
The prosecution urged the public and the defense to avoid speculation regarding the unnamed individual in the November 26, 2025, request. Williams noted that confidentiality is a standard feature of extradition treaties to prevent flight risks and protect the integrity of ongoing investigations.
The Prosecution’s Stance on the Two Cases:
- Confidentiality: Requests are not public record until an arrest warrant is executed or an “Authority to Proceed” is gazetted.
- Assessment Phase: Williams noted that many requests undergo months of legal vetting for treaty compliance before reaching the courts.
- No “Preferential” Speed: The state maintains that the speed of the Mohamed case is due to the advanced stage of the U.S. investigation and the magnitude of the alleged $50 million tax evasion.
Defense Calls it a “Legal Smokescreen.”
Defense attorney Siand Dhurjon rejected the prosecutor’s explanation, calling the term “politically motivated treaty” a “legal smokescreen” to cover for the targeting of Azruddin Mohamed in his capacity as the new Leader of the Opposition. The defense pointed out that the Mohameds were arrested just one day after the formal request arrived on October 30, whereas the person in the November request remains a free citizen.
Court Schedule
The extradition hearing is set to resume on Monday, February 9, 2026. The court is expected to conclude the cross-examination of Permanent Secretary Roopchand-Edwards before proceeding to the next State witness.
