Nazar Mohamed was present in court on Thursday as proceedings continued in his ongoing extradition hearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. When asked by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman whether he consented for his lawyer to appear on his behalf in his absence, Nazar firmly replied, “No, madam. I’ll try my best to be here.”The case had previously been adjourned on at least two occasions due to Mohamed’s medical condition. His attorneys had told the court that he was hospitalised with heart-related complications and remained under close medical supervision.He and his son, businessman Azruddin Mohamed, who serves as Guyana’s Leader of the Opposition, are contesting extradition to the United States. Both men face serious charges in the Florida court, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, stemming from alleged financial schemes linked to gold exports and other business dealings.Despite his recent illness, Nazar Mohamed’s presence in court allowed the extradition hearing to proceed as scheduled. The proceedings are continuing, with Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, undergoing extensive cross-examination by the defence.The extradition proceedings stem from a request by the United States for the extradition of the Mohameds. They are accused of operating an international criminal enterprise involving alleged gold smuggling, large-scale tax evasion that reportedly cost Guyana approximately US$50 million, wire and mail fraud, and money laundering.The 72-year-old father and his 38-year-old son are facing 11 criminal charges in the U.S. Southern District of Florida and were sanctioned in June 2024 by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.The Mohameds, owners of Mohamed’s Enterprise, remain on $150,000 bail each while the extradition proceedings continue. As part of their bail conditions, they have surrendered their passports and are required to report weekly to the Ruimveldt Police Station.They are represented by Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, along with attorneys Siand Dhurjon and Damien DaSilva.
