United States-sanctioned and interdicted Opposition Leader of Guyaba, Azruddin Mohamed, who has previously been implicated in allegations of murder, torture and other serious criminal offences by a senior police officer testifying under oath, is expected to appear in court on Friday alongside two employees on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and obstruction of justice.
Mohamed, 39, along with Eugene Thorne, 35, and Mario Mohamed, 25, are expected to be jointly charged with unlawful possession of a firearm without a licence, unlawful possession of ammunition without a licence, and attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
The charges, recommended by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), follow a late-night shooting incident outside the Kitty residence of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, head of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch and a key witness in ongoing extradition proceedings against Mohamed and his father, businessman Nazar Mohamed.
The latest criminal allegations have intensified scrutiny of the Opposition Leader, whose political career has been overshadowed by an extradition battle with the United States and serious accusations raised during court testimony concerning his alleged involvement in violent crimes.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 11:45 p.m. on Monday, when a black Toyota Allion carrying Mohamed and his two employees was observed travelling slowly past Narine’s Barr Street residence before returning a short while later.
As the vehicle approached for a second time, Narine reportedly heard what appeared to be a gunshot. The senior officer took cover and discharged several rounds from his service firearm in the direction of the vehicle, which subsequently drove away.
Police later intercepted the car at the junction of Vlissengen Road and Sandy Babb Street, Kitty.
A search conducted in the presence of Mohamed and his two employees reportedly uncovered a .32-calibre Taurus pistol with its serial number removed and three live rounds of matching ammunition.
Investigators also recovered a spent .32-calibre shell near Narine’s residence, along with four spent 9mm shells. The firearm, ammunition and spent shells were submitted for ballistic examination.
Although Mohamed and his attorneys have accused police of planting the weapon, the discovery occurred during a search broadcast live on the Facebook page of his sister, Hana Mohamed.
The livestream showed the police search taking place in the presence of the Opposition Leader and his employees, who watched as officers examined the vehicle.
The circumstances surrounding the incident have raised serious concerns because the vehicle was being used to film the residence of a senior police officer directly involved in proceedings that could result in Mohamed’s extradition to face criminal prosecution in the United States.
The government has described the incident as a grave matter involving potential witness intimidation and interference with the administration of justice.
The latest charges also come against the backdrop of disturbing allegations previously raised in open court by Narine, who testified under oath in September that police intelligence had implicated Mohamed in several killings and other serious criminal activities.
During cross-examination in the extradition proceedings, Narine testified that information obtained from police sources linked Mohamed to six alleged execution-style killings, including an incident involving three people who died following an explosion aboard a vessel at Friendship.
The senior officer also referred to allegations of torture, assaults on employees, bribery and an incident in which an employee was allegedly subjected to having an ear cut off.
Narine described Mohamed as a threat to society and national security, telling the court that he considered him the greatest current threat to Guyana’s national security.
The disclosure during sworn testimony by the head of Special Branch has added another layer of controversy to the Opposition Leader’s legal troubles.
Narine had also previously expressed fears for his safety and that of his family after a photograph featuring him and his 11-year-old son appeared on a Facebook page bearing Mohamed’s name.
The photograph, which also featured President Dr Irfaan Ali and his wife, was accompanied by commentary that Narine said he considered an attempt to intimidate him because of his involvement in the extradition case.
Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman subsequently cautioned against involving children and family members in social media exchanges connected to the proceedings.
The incident outside Narine’s home on Monday has now renewed attention to those earlier concerns, particularly given the officer’s central role in the extradition case.
In a strongly worded statement, the Government of Guyana said the incident raised serious questions about witness safety and the integrity of the justice system.
The government also referenced Narine’s previous testimony concerning alleged killings and claimed that witnesses in investigations implicating Mohamed had died. Those government claims have not been established by a court.
It further disclosed that the United States Department of Justice was being kept informed of developments.
Mohamed and his father are wanted in the United States to face charges arising from an alleged multimillion-dollar gold export and tax-evasion scheme. The accusations include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs violations.
Both men have challenged the extradition proceedings, which are being heard before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The Opposition Leader and his two employees have remained in police custody since their arrests on Monday night.
Their expected appearance before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday will mark another significant development in the legal controversies surrounding Mohamed, who now faces fresh criminal proceedings in Guyana while simultaneously fighting extradition to the United States.