Intelligence chief admits burning records in extradition case

Sep 11, 2026 News

---

(Kaieteur News) – The Head of the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Special Branch, Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, admitted to shredding and burning operational documents related to the arrest of businessmen Nazar Mohamed and his son, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed.

The revelation unfolded during ongoing extradition committal proceedings before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman on Wednesday. The US is seeking the extradition of the father and son to face trial in a Florida Federal Court over alleged wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering, allegations dating back to 2017. 

Under cross-examination by defence attorney Siand Dhurjon, Senior Superintendent Narine confirmed that on October 31, 2025, at 11:35 AM, he authorised Entry 13 in the Regional Division 4A Brickdam Police Station diary. The entry formally recorded the arrest of Azruddin Mohamed, 38, and his father, Nazar Mohamed, 73, both of Lot 275 Burrow Street, Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, for conspiracy to commit money laundering and other offences in violation of US laws.

While the entry noted that neither suspect showed marks of violence and that both men refused to sign the entry, it made no record of documents transmitted that morning, the movement of the suspects to court, or a private meeting held with a US federal agent. Narine testified that he permitted US Marshal Sandy Rowe to have a private conversation with the Mohameds. Though conducted in full view, the discussion was out of Narine’s hearing, leaving the contents unknown to local authorities.

When pressed on why this interaction was omitted from both Entry 13 and his formal police statement, Narine indicated he believed he had noted it in one of three operational notebooks. However, he admitted that all three books were destroyed in January 2026 at Special Branch headquarters.

Narine described running the notebooks through a shredding machine before personally burning the remnants in an area adjacent to a condemned furnace in the Special Branch compound. He testified that he kept the fire under supervision until the records were turned to dust and rendered completely useless. When asked to confirm if the compound was located on Barret Street, Narine declined to give an exact address, citing security concerns regarding Special Branch operations.

Defence counsel suggested that Narine had destroyed the true operational record of the operation, a premise Narine rejected. To justify the destruction, Narine asserted he was bound by the “Official Secrets Act” and obligated to destroy any records he deemed secret. “Anything I consider that is a secret, and for it to remain that way, I destroy it,” Narine testified. Prosecutor Herbert McKenzie admitted he was unsure what his witness was referring to. Defence attorney Dhurjon formally requested disclosure of any official policy or document upon which Narine acted to destroy the records. Narine eventually backtracked, stating he would require legal advice before clarifying whether he was citing statutory law, such as the Official Secrets Act of 1911, or internal police guidance.

Cross-examination on the issue was deferred to allow Narine time to consult legal counsel.

The court also witnessed heavy debates surrounding allegations of political persecution. The defence contends that Nazar Mohamed is being targeted due to his alignment with his son’s political party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), which Nazar finances. Defence counsel highlighted over a dozen public statements from government officials criticising the elder Mohamed.

Outside the courtroom, defence attorney Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde argued that the officer’s testimony pointed toward political interference. “Permit me to go back to the law and the Latin maxim, res ipsa loquitur, the thing speaks for itself,” Forde stated. “The evidence of Mr. Narine spoke volumes in the case regarding the level of potential political involvement.”

Conversely, Prosecutor Glenn Hanoman rejected the defence’s claims, describing the strategy as an attempt to prolong the case.

“The whole charge, all the evidence that was built in this case goes all the way back to 2017,” Hanoman told reporters outside court. “So obviously, evidence that the request is based on could not be political because it relates too far back.” Hanoman also criticised the defence for submitting over 300 pages of legal precedents only to withdraw the specific question put to Narine, calling it an “abuse of the court’s process” and a “masterclass in delay.”

“Justice Delayed vs. Rushed Justice”

Addressing the tension between the prosecution’s concerns over the 10-month-long proceedings and the defence’s lengthy cross-examinations, Chief Magistrate Latchman affirmed that the court would maintain strict control over its own schedule.

“This court will not be controlled by any mortal being, inside this court or outside; this court will control its own pace,” Latchman warned. She added, “Justice delayed is justice denied, but also rushed justice is crushed justice.”

Cross-examination regarding the destruction of the police records and the official policy disclosures is set to resume on September 21.

---

• burning evidence, extradition, GPF, Intelligence chief, Prem Narine

---