Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, has accused the legal team representing Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, of deliberately prolonging their extradition proceedings, claiming that not a single prosecution witness has completed giving evidence despite the matter being before the courts for more than a year.
Nandlall made the accusation during a special interview on the National Communications Network (NCN), where he rejected suggestions that the United States’ extradition case against the father and son was faltering.
Instead, the Attorney General maintained that the delays were being caused by the defence, pointing to the extensive cross-examination of witnesses, repeated legal challenges and applications filed before the higher courts.
“The case is being stalled by the defence counsel,” Nandlall declared.
He expressed frustration that the extradition proceedings, which began following the arrest of the Mohameds on October 31, 2025, have yet to advance beyond the testimony of the first two prosecution witnesses.
“No extradition case has lasted a year. No committal hearing in an extradition case has lasted a year. Not a single witness has been completed yet in one year of hearings,” Nandlall claimed.
He further described the length of the proceedings as extraordinary, questioning why the testimony of even one witness had not been fully concluded after months of court hearings.
During that period, only two prosecution witnesses have testified before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The first was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, who began giving evidence in January.
Her testimony centred on the receipt and processing of the United States’ extradition request, including the diplomatic documents transmitted to Guyana and the procedures followed by the relevant authorities.
However, her cross-examination remained unfinished months after she first entered the witness box.
In March, Special Prosecutor Glen Hanoman publicly criticised the prolonged questioning, claiming that the defence had spent more than two months cross-examining the witness.
The second prosecution witness, Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch, began testifying on September 3.
Narine was questioned extensively about the circumstances surrounding the Mohameds’ arrest, documents connected to the extradition request and allegations of political surveillance.
Although defence attorney Siand Dhurjon completed his cross-examination of Narine on September 29, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde subsequently began questioning the senior police officer.
That cross-examination was still ongoing when the proceedings were adjourned in October.
The prosecution has also indicated that additional witnesses are expected to testify, including Detective Superintendent Rodwell Sarrabo and other officials connected to the extradition process.
The extradition proceedings stem from an official request by the United States for Mohamed and his father to be surrendered to face federal criminal charges.
The two businessmen are accused in an 11-count indictment involving alleged wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs-related offences arising from gold exports.
United States authorities have alleged that the father and son were involved in a scheme to evade more than US$50 million in taxes and royalties through the under-declaration of gold exports from Guyana.
Both men have denied wrongdoing and have challenged the extradition request through the Guyanese courts.
Nandlall, however, has rejected suggestions that the proceedings are politically motivated, maintaining that the request originated from United States authorities and is being pursued under the established extradition framework.
