Mohameds’ extradition case: Court expected to rule on December 10 as extradition proceedings advance -AG
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., has confirmed that the extradition case currently before the magistrate’s court is progressing, with key deadlines set for the coming days.
Speaking on his weekly Issues in the News programme, Nandlall said that on November 24, all the paperwork requested by the United States was received in Guyana and handed over to the defence by lawyers representing the interest of the U.S. government. He explained that the documents were first received by email through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, printed, and then delivered to the defence.
According to him, the hard copies- the identical bundle of documents- were expected to be handed over by November 28 after arriving through diplomatic channels, as previously indicated to the court.
However, Nandlall noted that the defence, although stating since early November that they intended to raise constitutional objections, did not do so when the matter was called on November 28. He said the defence instead blamed the prosecution for delays, despite having been provided with the full documentation since the 24th.
As a result, the defence successfully requested a two-week adjournment to file their constitutional arguments. “The magistrate gave them the fifth to put whatever issues they want to raise into writing and submitted to the court,” Nandlall explained. The prosecution, in turn, has until December 8 to respond.
Nandlall said both sides are expected to return to court on December 10 to present oral arguments, after which the magistrate may rule.
“Depending on how the court rules the prosecution has said that they are prepared to start the committal proceedings immediately on the 10th itself,” he stated. He described committal proceedings as “a very short process… one day, two days… not a long procedure.”
The Attorney General stressed that due process is being accorded at every stage in keeping with the constitutional framework of Guyana, and said that all legal facilities available will be encouraged to be utilised as the matter continues through the courts.
