–argues that continued detention is prejudicial, pointing to her son’s family responsibilities, compliance with previous bail conditions & public office
The mother of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has filed an urgent application in the High Court seeking his immediate release on interim bail while a substantive challenge to a Magistrate’s decision to remand him on a cybercrime charge is being determined.
Bonita Mohamed filed the application on November 8, asking the court to admit her son to bail pending the outcome of judicial review proceedings challenging Magistrate Abigail Gibbs’ October 30 refusal to grant him bail.
In support of the application, Bonita argued that the Magistrate failed to properly consider several circumstances which, she contends, favoured her son’s release.
Among those circumstances was Mohamed’s compliance with bail conditions in separate extradition proceedings over the past 12 months.
Bonita also highlighted her son’s family responsibilities, noting that he has a wife and five dependent children who depend on him.
She also pointed to the prosecution’s alleged concession that he was not a flight risk, his lack of previous convictions, fixed address, family responsibilities and strong ties to Guyana.
Bonita further noted that Mohamed, 39, was granted bail on October 16 on separate charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition, and attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
According to Bonita, those bail conditions were intended to protect Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, head of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch.
Narine is also a key witness in the extradition proceedings against Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed.
She argued that the cybercrime allegation is non-violent and has no complainant, while highlighting her son’s responsibilities as a husband and father of five dependent children.
The application also places emphasis on Mohamed’s position as Leader of the Opposition.
Bonita contended that the functions attached to that constitutional office cannot be performed by anyone else, and pointed to the National Assembly’s scheduled sitting on November 11.
She further argued that the delay in determining the substantive bail application was causing prejudice to her son, stating: “Each day in custody is prejudice which no later order can undo.”
Bonita has proposed several conditions should the court grant interim bail.
These include surrendering Mohamed’s travel documents, remaining in Guyana, reporting to a police station and having no contact with his co-accused or prosecution witnesses, except through his attorney.
The urgent application follows Magistrate Gibbs’ decision to refuse bail on October 30 and remand Mohamed until November 24 on a charge under Section 9 of the Cybercrime Act.
The joint charge against Mohamed and 20-year-old Police Constable Ryan Greene concerns the alleged unauthorised access to and sale of footage from the Safe Country Surveillance System.
The footage reportedly captured the October 12, 2026 shooting outside Narine’s Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown home, which allegedly involved Mohamed and two of his workers.
According to the charge, the footage was obtained without authorisation from a computer system at the Police Command Centre in Liliendaal and subsequently handed over to Mohamed in exchange for $800,000.
Police Constable Ashton Chappelle, 24, called “Chappy”, was also charged in connection with the alleged unauthorised access to and transfer of the footage.
He, too, was remanded to prison by Magistrate Gibbs.
The interim bail application is scheduled to be heard by Justice Priscilla Chandra-Hanif this week.
The substantive judicial review application challenging the Magistrate’s decision is scheduled for November 23.
The Mohameds are represented by Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, along with attorneys Damien DaSilva and Siand Dhurjon.
