Guyana Court of Appeal Rejects Bias Claim in Mohamed Extradition Challenge

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana’s Court of Appeal on Tuesday threw out a legal challenge brought by businessman Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, who had alleged political bias in the issuance of an order initiating extradition proceedings against them.

In a unanimous ruling, Chancellor of the Judiciary Roxane George-Wiltshire said the applicants failed to demonstrate that Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond acted improperly when she granted the Authority to Proceed, a legal step required under the Fugitive Offenders Act to begin extradition committal proceedings.

The court found that the minister’s role in issuing the Authority to Proceed is administrative and governed by statute, rejecting claims that her decision was influenced by political considerations. George-Wiltshire stated that once the legal requirements are satisfied, the minister is obligated to issue the authorization, and the circumstances of the case did not give rise to any inference of bias.

“The function exercised does not involve choosing between competing interests,” the Chancellor said, noting that the appellants had not established that the process was tainted in any way.

The ruling clears the way for ongoing proceedings before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, who is presiding over the extradition matter. The Authority to Proceed had been issued on October 30, 2025, with arrest warrants following a day later.

The appellate court also declined to halt the proceedings to allow for a potential appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), indicating that any such request should be directed to the regional court itself.

Addressing arguments raised by the Mohameds’ legal team, the court dismissed suggestions that the minister should have recused herself or delegated her authority, pointing out that any alternative decision-maker would similarly be a member of the Cabinet.

The judges further emphasized that determinations on whether the Mohameds should ultimately be extradited fall within the jurisdiction of the courts, not the minister.

Costs totaling GY$1.5 million each were awarded to the Minister of Home Affairs and the Attorney General.

The decision affirms an earlier High Court ruling by Chief Justice Navindra Singh, who had also rejected claims of bias in the matter.

The Mohameds had argued that statements made by senior government officials during the 2025 election campaign, as well as remarks allegedly made by the minister, undermined her impartiality. The Court of Appeal, however, found those claims insufficient to invalidate the statutory process.