The Government of Guyana has strongly condemned Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s alleged involvement in a late-night incident outside the home of a key police witness in his ongoing extradition case, warning of far-reaching legal consequences and declaring that attempts to distort the facts will not obstruct the course of justice.
In a strongly worded statement Tuesday, the government accused Mohamed and his associates of attempting to manipulate the public narrative surrounding the incident, which resulted in the arrest of the opposition leader and two other men following reports of gunfire near the Kitty, Georgetown, residence of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine.
The government said the circumstances were particularly alarming because Narine is currently testifying in the extradition proceedings involving Mohamed and his father before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
According to the statement, Mohamed admitted that he and two associates were filming Narine’s residence on Barr Street around midnight Monday while travelling in a dark-coloured vehicle with heavily tinted windows.
The government said gunshots were heard from the direction of the vehicle and spent shells were subsequently recovered from the roadway near Narine’s home.
Narine responded by discharging his service firearm at the vehicle, which subsequently fled the area before being intercepted by law enforcement officers.
Mohamed was found in the back seat, while his two associates occupied the front seats. An unlicensed firearm was allegedly discovered inside the vehicle, and all three men were arrested and taken into police custody.
The government rejected attempts to downplay the seriousness of the incident, insisting that the circumstances demanded a thorough criminal investigation.
“No amount of obfuscation, concoction or Facebook trolling will be allowed to contradict the factually verifiable narrative and the far reaching legal implications that ensue,” the statement said.
“The law must be allowed to take its course.”
The government drew particular attention to Narine’s role as a critical witness in the extradition proceedings, noting that he had previously expressed fears for his safety and that of his family.
According to the statement, photographs of Narine and his family, including his minor son, with President Irfaan Ali were previously published on Mohamed’s Facebook page in what the government described as an attempt to insinuate impropriety.
The government said Narine subsequently informed the presiding magistrate under oath that he feared for his life and the safety of his family.
It further noted that Narine had testified that Mohamed posed a threat to national security and alleged that police intelligence linked him to several killings. Those allegations have not been established by a court.
The government also raised concerns about previous deaths of witnesses in murder investigations allegedly implicating Mohamed, suggesting that the latest incident highlighted the importance of protecting individuals involved in sensitive criminal proceedings.
The government warned that the incident carried implications beyond Guyana’s borders, particularly because the extradition proceedings could lead to a criminal trial in the United States.
It said the integrity of both Guyana’s justice system and the American criminal justice process could be affected by any attempt to interfere with witnesses.
“The State has a duty to protect its justice system from interference and perversions,” the government declared.
“Witnesses are key to any justice system. They must always feel safe when they testify. It is the State’s duty to protect them. The State will do so.”
The government said several serious criminal offences could arise from the circumstances surrounding the incident and confirmed that investigations by law enforcement agencies were continuing.
It also disclosed that the United States Department of Justice was being kept informed of the developments, underscoring the international implications of the matter.
The statement concluded with a firm warning that the government would not tolerate interference with the administration of justice or threats to the safety of witnesses.
“The full force of the law will be applied,” it said.
Mohamed and the two other men remain accused in connection with the incident, and the allegations have not been proven in court.