Mohamed arrested over late court arrival

Feb 17, 2026 News

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…Accuses Govt., police of slashing car tires causing delay

…Magistrate threatens to forfeit bail   

(Kaieteur News) – Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on Monday accused the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of orchestrating events to delay his arrival at court, after a warrant was briefly issued for his arrest in his ongoing extradition proceedings.

Mohamed was scheduled to appear at 09:00 hrs before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court in the matter involving himself and his father, Nazar Mohamed. When the case was called and he was absent, the magistrate issued a warrant for his arrest at approximately 09:05hrs, describing his absence as disrespectful. He arrived about 35 minutes later and was escorted to the court’s lock-ups. The warrant was subsequently withdrawn after explanations were offered to the court.

Addressing reporters, Mohamed maintained that throughout the extradition hearings, he has consistently arrived early, except for one prior occasion when he was two minutes late. He described Monday’s delay as a “strange occurrence” and accused the government of political persecution. “The political prosecution that I am going through is unbelievable under the PPP administration,” he said. “I have utmost respect for the magistrate. I think I attended this court more than 12 times. I would always be here before my attorneys. Only once I was late, that was 09:02 hrs, two minutes late at the second hearing. The magistrate told me to ensure that I arrive on time, and since that day I never attended court late.”

Mohamed claimed that his driver discovered two slashed tyres on his vehicle on Monday morning, preventing him from arriving on time. He alleged that this was not the first such incident, stating that weeks ago, one of the tyres had also been slashed on the day of a court hearing. On that occasion, he said, the driver was able to replace the damaged tyre with a spare. However, on Monday, with two tyres slashed and only one spare available, the vehicle could not be used.

He further alleged that he has been forced to rely on staff members for transportation because insurance companies have refused to renew coverage for his vehicles, which he claims was done at the direction of government authorities. “This morning at 07:20 hrs I called one of my attorneys, Damien Da Silva, and told him to ensure they come early,” Mohamed said. “All my vehicles, the insurance companies are not renewing the insurances because of the wicked, vindictive PPP government instructing them not to renew my insurances. I got to depend on some of my staff to use their vehicles like what I have been using for the past couple of weeks or months,” Mohamed said.

He went on to allege that the Special Branch of the Guyana Police Force was responsible for the tyre damage. “Two wheels were slashed this morning, and I suspect that the Special Branch, the arm of the Guyana Police Force headed by the PPP, did this purposefully so I can arrive to court late,” he stated. Mohamed stressed that he remains committed to punctual attendance at court. “I would always be here on time. The reporters know this. You would see me sitting here before court starts. So, this morning, that is the reason why I attended court late,” he said.

In the court room, Latchman, who is presiding over the extradition matter, initially issued an arrest warrant after Mohamed failed to appear at the scheduled 09:00 hrs start.

However, following repeated pleas and submissions from the defence, the warrant was later reversed. While showing mercy by removing the warrant, the magistrate issued a stern warning that any future late appearance could result in immediate remand. When proceedings began promptly at 09:00 hrs, all attorneys were present but the Mohameds were absent. The magistrate questioned the accused’s absence, and defence attorney Roysdale Forde SC, told the court he was unaware of his client’s whereabouts but assured that Mohamed would attend. Displeased, Magistrate Latchman sharply questioned the delay, asking, “Is he moving on a snail?” She further stated, “he’s disrespectful. He needs to be punctual.” About 35 minutes later, Mohamed arrived at court, but by then the warrant had already been issued and the matter adjourned. He was escorted to the court’s lock-ups. Defence attorneys, including Forde, Damien Da Silva and Siand Dhurjon, attempted to notify the magistrate of their client’s presence, but she declined to leave her chambers to address them. In another attempt to prevent their client from being remanded, the attorneys sought the intervention of the Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty. However, she indicated that she did not have jurisdiction to recall a warrant issued by another magistrate and referred the matter back to Magistrate Latchman.

After repeated applications from the defence to have the warrant reversed and to allow Mohamed to explain his tardiness, Magistrate Latchman stood the matter down until 12:30 hrs, during which time Mohamed remained in custody. When proceedings resumed, Mohamed apologised to the court, stating, “Your Worship, I’m sorry that I was late for court.”

Magistrate Latchman, however, reminded Mohamed that he had previously been late for the second hearing of the extradition matter and had already been warned about punctuality. “I warned you that 9 o’clock is 9 o’clock and that you are not to let it happen again,” she said. She further stated that under her watch, the wheels of justice would continue to turn in a timely manner. “This is not monopoly and there are no chances. At this point in time, I am very much inclined to escheat the bail and remand you to prison so I can guarantee that you will be here on time on the next occasion,” she said, stressing that the court would not tolerate excuses.

In response, attorney Dhurjon apologised on behalf of his client and assured the court that he would personally ensure Mohamed’s punctual attendance in the future, even if it required collecting him as early as 6:00 hrs. “Madam I will personally take steps to ensure even if I have to go for him at 6:00hrs to bring him to court I will,” Dhurjon told the court.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Terrence Williams expressed concern about delays in the extradition proceedings, noting that Mohamed ought to have been present in court on time. “We are concerned. There is public uttering that the matter may take place in five years,” he said.

In delivering her ruling, Magistrate Latchman stated, “I will temper justice with mercy,” before ordering the removal of the arrest warrant. The court was also informed that Nazar Mohamed remains unwell, and an updated medical report will be provided at the next hearing. The matter was adjourned to February 18.

The Mohameds are facing a federal indictment in Miami, United States, following the unsealing of a 25-page indictment on October 2, 2025. The indictment alleges a wide-ranging fraud and money-laundering scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery and the evasion of millions of dollars in taxes and royalties owed to Guyana. Following a formal request from the United States, Minister Oneidge Walrond signed the Authority to Proceed, allowing the extradition matter to move forward before the magistrates’ court. If sufficient evidence is established during committal proceedings, the magistrate could order the Mohameds’ extradition to face charges in the United States.

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• arrested, Azruddin Mohamed, late court arrival, Nazar Mohamed, PPPC

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