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Prosecution pushes for paper committal in Mohameds’ extradition case
…Defence objects, says will undermine cross examination
(Kaieteur News) – The extradition proceedings involving Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, were delayed again on Wednesday after the prosecution requested that the matter proceed via paper committal rather than the current preliminary inquiry.
The submission was made at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. Representing the United States, prosecutors Terrence Williams, SC, and Glenn Hanoman requested that the extradition matter be handled through written statements and documentary evidence, bypassing oral testimony.
Father and Son (left) Nazar and Opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed.
A paper committal allows a case to be sent to a higher court based solely on documents, expediting the process. In contrast, a preliminary inquiry involves oral evidence and cross-examination to determine if there is sufficient evidence to commit the accused to stand trial.
Since the start of the proceedings, the prosecution has called one witness, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, who has testified and is currently under cross-examination. Her previous testimony sparked tension in the courtroom as the defence raised questions about the transparency of her evidence. Williams had previously indicated to the media that the prosecution plans to call multiple witnesses to give oral testimony against the Mohameds.
However, Wednesday’s hearing was briefly adjourned after defence attorney Siand Dhurjon informed the court that an updated medical report on Nazar Mohamed had not been received. Nazar told the court he was still unwell and awaiting a report from his cardiologist. The defence requested time for him to rest and sought an adjournment to submit the report. Considering the accused’s health, the magistrate rescheduled the matter to February 26, 2026.
During the hearing, the magistrate revisited the prosecution’s earlier request for paper committal. Hanoman had previously indicated that, with the accused’s approval, Nazar would not be required to appear in court if the case proceeded via paper committal. Williams confirmed this position on Hanoman’s behalf.
Dhurjon strongly opposed the request, arguing that it would undermine the defence’s right to cross-examine witnesses. “They intend to change the course of the proceedings from oral evidence to simply submitting documents for the magistrate’s decision, without questioning a single witness. This is indisputable evidence that the prosecution is trying to abort our efforts at cross-examination. The legal underpinning of the request is flawed and it would be an error of law for the magistrate to allow that to occur,” he told reporters.
“The Fugitive Offenders Act which is the act that sets out how the extradition process ought to unfold in the miniscule detail, it sets out that there ought to be a preliminary inquiry, a common law process and there must be cross examination. The act also sets out how evidence is to be proceeded, how the orders are to be made; this act is a specific act,” Dhurjon added.
The defence indicated that it would submit detailed arguments at the next hearing. The magistrate noted that paper committal typically applies to formally charged criminal cases, while the Mohameds are the subjects of extradition proceedings and have not been formally charged.
The court ordered both sides to submit their arguments on the matter at the next hearing.
The Mohamed family faces criminal charges in a U.S. federal court in Miami, Florida. A 25-page indictment unsealed on October 2, 2025, alleges they orchestrated a large-scale fraud scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery, and the evasion of millions of dollars in taxes and royalties owed to Guyana.
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