Pres. Ali: Mohameds entitled to due process, but it is not for local courts to try the case

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday reaffirmed that the ongoing extradition proceedings involving U.S-indicted businessmen Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed must follow strict due process, but stressed that Guyana’s courts are not being asked to try the criminal allegations levelled in the United States.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the President responded to a News Room question about recent public remarks made by Azruddin, who suggested that the extradition matter could take “at least five years or more” to conclude.

Dr Ali said the comment was troubling and risked giving the impression that the judicial system was subject to the control or expectations of the accused.

“When Mohamed said the proceeding can take five years or more, I don’t know why he believes he is in charge of the court,” the President said.

“Making a definitive statement like this is concerning to me, and I’m sure it’s concerning to the judiciary, because he is making a statement that is very bold, as if he is aware of a system that will deliver to him a certain result.”

The head of state said it was “of concern for all of us” that anyone facing judicial proceedings would speak with such certainty about the anticipated duration or outcome.

Even so, the President underscored that the State remains committed to ensuring fairness and legality as the extraction case progresses.

“We believe in due process. We believe the Mohameds must have due process and they are having that due process,” Dr Ali said.

However, he was equally firm in clarifying the role of the local courts.

The extradition hearings before the Magistrates’ Court, he emphasised, are not criminal trials and will not determine guilt or innocence regarding the allegations contained in the United States indictment.

“I want to remind you that it is not for the courts of Guyana or the magistrate to try this case,” the President said.

“It is for the magistrate to determine whether there is enough evidence that constitutes a crime in the US, and for the extradition to take place based on that.”

He noted that the case before the court is supported by documents already submitted by US authorities outlining the alleged offences. Importantly, he added, a US grand jury, made up of 12 persons, has already found there is sufficient evidence for the charges.

“The grand jury has already determined that there is enough evidence for the extradition to take place,” Dr Ali said. “So I think it’s a simple proceeding, and we await due process.”

The President reiterated that the matter is neither political nor subject to influence.

He said the extradition procedure is straightforward, grounded in treaty obligations and driven by evidence already considered by the US system.

The matter has been before the local courts for more than three weeks as hearings continue.

Azruddin and his father, Nazar, have been indicted in a Florida Court in the United States of America on 11 charges combined, including wire fraud, gold smuggling, and money laundering.

The case was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Each charge can carry a potential maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

Both men were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2024.