GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Extradition proceedings against Azruddin Mohamed, an indicted and U.S.-sanctioned Member of Parliament and businessman, and his father, Nazar Mohamed, will proceed after acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh on Monday rejected an application to pause the case.
The ruling allows the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to continue with the committal hearing, notwithstanding defence lawyers’ plans to appeal and seek further stays.
The Mohameds had asked the High Court to halt the proceedings while challenging the constitutionality of amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Act that support the authority to proceed in their case. Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde argued that the constitutional issues justified a suspension. Attorney General Anil Nandlall opposed the request, saying extradition law is settled and that the application was aimed at delaying the process.
After the decision, Nandlall said courts have consistently declined to interrupt extradition matters before a committal ruling, noting that the law provides ample remedies after that stage. He described the multiple pre-committal applications as an abuse of process.
The High Court is scheduled to hear the substantive constitutional challenge on January 14, including a separate claim alleging political bias by government officials involved in the extradition. The defence has indicated it will appeal Monday’s ruling to the Full Court.
The Mohameds remain on $150,000 bail each.
The United States requested their extradition on October 30, 2025, under the Guyana–United Kingdom extradition treaty, which continues to apply in Guyana. U.S. prosecutors have charged the pair in the Southern District of Florida with offences including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs violations, linked to an alleged US$50 million gold export and tax evasion scheme.
With the stay denied, the extradition hearing is set to begin Tuesday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, while the High Court considers the constitutional issues later this month.