The opposition leader of Guyana is fighting US extradition on charges of money laundering, wire fraud, and other financial crimes linked to gold exports.
Azruddin Mohamed, 38, whose We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party won 16 of the 65 parliamentary seats in general elections on Sept. 1, is awaiting a high court ruling on Monday. This ruling will decide whether the lower magistrate’s court has jurisdiction to proceed with the extradition hearing requested by US authorities.
His legal team argued for a stay, seeking to halt the lower court’s progress. The next magistrate’s court date is scheduled for Jan. 6. However, his lawyers are challenging the magistrate’s authority under recent amendments to the Extradition Act, aiming to slow or stop the process. His father, Nazar Mohamed, 72, faces a similar extradition battle.
In October, Florida’s Southern District indicted both men for financial crimes involving US$50 million in unpaid taxes, allegedly through the export of over 10,000 kilograms of untaxed Guyanese gold.
Nazar faces charges including money laundering and fraud, while Azruddin is accused of evading $1 million in taxes in relation to a Lamborghini shipment. Authorities seek forfeiture of $5.3 million in gold seized in Miami.
As Azruddin and his father await the higher court ruling, President Irfaan Ali’s administration, once closely connected to the Mohameds, has called parliament only once since September’s elections. This move has blocked a parliamentary vote to elect Azruddin as the leader of the official opposition. Azruddin claims this is a deliberate political maneuver. WIN, formed just three months before the election, quickly became the chief opposition party.
Azruddin Mohamed argues that authorities are delaying parliament primarily to prevent him from becoming the opposition leader and to remove him from politics, as his extradition faces a ruling.
Lead Attorney Roysdale Forde explained to reporters that if the magistrate’s court is allowed to continue and finds sufficient evidence against the Mohameds, his clients may face imprisonment. He stated, “If the magistrate finds sufficient evidence, they will lose the right to bail and could be imprisoned pending extradition proceedings. To challenge this, they would then need to apply to the high court through a writ of habeas corpus.”
