HGP Nightly News – The legal battle over whether Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, can face extradition proceedings will reach a decisive stage on July 29, when the Caribbean Court of Justice delivers its ruling in their appeal.
The judgment could clear the way for proceedings to resume before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court or force authorities to reconsider the process used to initiate the case.
Until then, an interim stay imposed by the CCJ remains in force, keeping the extradition hearing on hold.
The regional court reserved its decision after hearing arguments on April 21. At the centre of the appeal is the Authority to Proceed issued by the Minister of Home Affairs, the document that authorised the Magistrates’ Court to consider the United States’ extradition request.
The Mohameds contend that the minister’s decision was affected by political bias and is therefore invalid. Their attorneys have also pointed to the speed with which the ATP was issued as part of their challenge.
The Government rejects those arguments.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall has maintained that issuing the ATP was an administrative and executive act rather than a judicial decision. He argues that the allegations of bias have no legal foundation and that the Magistrates’ Court must ultimately decide whether the evidence meets the requirements for committal.
The CCJ will not determine whether the Mohameds are guilty of the offences alleged in the United States. Its ruling will address the legality of the Guyanese extradition process and whether the minister’s authorisation can stand.
The father and son previously lost their challenge in both the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh dismissed their application on February 4, finding that the Home Affairs Minister had lawfully exercised her authority. The court also ruled that political rivalry, without evidence of an improper purpose, was insufficient to establish bias.
The Court of Appeal unanimously rejected the Mohameds’ appeal on March 17.
After both courts declined to halt the committal proceedings, the Mohameds approached the CCJ.
At a case-management conference on March 25, the regional court granted an interim stay and scheduled the substantive hearing for April 21. It also agreed to treat the special-leave application as the appeal itself, avoiding a separate preliminary stage.
The court reserved judgment following the April hearing and cautioned against excessive public commentary while the matter remained under consideration.
The case arises from an 11-count federal indictment in the Southern District of Florida. US prosecutors have accused the Mohameds of offences including conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, money laundering and alleged schemes involving gold exports.
