By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News|
— In a high-stakes moment during Friday’s 2026 Budget Debate, Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed challenged the government to break its silence regarding a second, undisclosed extradition request received from the United States.
Mohamed, who is currently fighting his own extradition alongside his father, Nazar Mohamed, argued that the government’s refusal to identify the individual in the November 2025 request exposes a “glaring double standard” and undermines the principles of transparency and equal treatment under the law.
The “November Request” Controversy
The existence of the second request was first brought to light during court testimony by Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She confirmed that while the Mohameds were processed within days of their October 30 request, a separate request for another individual arrived on November 26, 2025, but has remained out of the public eye.
Mohamed’s Key Arguments:
- Selective Prosecution: Mohamed questioned why his case was expedited in court while the second individual had not been named or publicly prosecuted.
- Political Interference: He suggested that the governing PPP/C may have influenced both U.S. sanctions and the subsequent extradition bid against him, seeking to remove him from the political landscape.
- Lack of Accountability: Addressing Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Mohamed demanded to know why the administration has not issued an official statement on the matter, despite it being ventilated in open court.
“Honourable Nandlall, where is the transparency?” Mohamed asked. “If we are talking about a treaty between two states, then the law must apply to everyone equally. You cannot pick and choose whose name you make public.”
Prosecution Defends Confidentiality
Lead Prosecutor Terrence Williams has previously cautioned against such public demands, noting that extradition treaties often require strict confidentiality. The state maintains that:
- Confidentiality is Standard: Names are typically withheld until an arrest warrant is executed or an “Authority to Proceed” is issued to prevent flight risks.
- Treaty Obligations: The government argues it is simply following established diplomatic channels and that not every request is immediately ready for judicial action.
A “Political Reckoning”
The disclosure of a secret request has shifted the narrative of the Mohamed proceedings. By framing the silence as a lack of accountability, the Opposition Leader is forcing a national reckoning on the intersection of diplomacy, crime, and political financing. Mohamed’s earlier admission that he “bankrolled” the PPP/C while they were in opposition has added weight to his claims that the current legal actions against him are politically charged.
Current Case Status
The extradition hearing for the Mohameds is currently adjourned until February 16, 2026, following a medical emergency involving the elder Mohamed. The court is expected to resume cross-examining the Permanent Secretary on the handling of these diplomatic documents.
