–adjourned to February 16 after defence says Nazar ill, hospitalised
EXTRADITION proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court involving U.S.-indicted Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed and his son Azruddin, who is also indicted, were, on Monday, adjourned to February 16 after the older Mohamed reportedly fell ill.
Proceedings commenced with the duo’s lawyer, Siand Dhurjon informing Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, who is presiding over the matter, that while Azruddin was in attendance, the older Mohamed was unable to attend due to a medical emergency.
One of the prosecuting attorneys, Glenn Hanoman, had asked for the senior Mohamed to appear virtually should he still be unwell when the case is called again, but the duo’s attorney objected.
“I think the law allows for that…that is a very good solution if he needs to rest… I think that he can be accommodated like that by the court,” Hanoman told reporters in an invited comment outside the courtroom.
He said that documentation was provided to the court on Nazar’s condition.
Hanoman related: ‘The documentation doesn’t say that he is hospitalised, but we understand that he has worsened today, and we understand the circumstances…We wish Nazar Mohamed well. We wish him a speedy recovery. These things happen.”
Hanoman said that extradition proceedings are “unique” and noted that in July 2024, preliminary inquiries (PIs) were abolished in Guyana, noting that such matters in the local courts are done by way of paper committal.
“Under the paper committal act, there is allowance for the absences of an accused person for the proceedings… previously during normal PIs, the accused had to be present because when depositions are taken, they have to witness it, they have to witness the person signing it,” he explained.
Hanoman noted, however, under the new provisions, if an accused is sick and grants consent, his or her lawyer can represent him/her for proceedings to continue.
The attorney-at-law said: “I don’t think the lawyer for Mr Mohamed may have been able to get his consent to appear for him today in his absence, but it may be helpful that lawyer request that consent in time for the next set proceedings.”
Previously, defence attorney Dhurjon had sought a postponement, citing the younger Mohamed’s participation in the National Assembly during the ongoing 2026 Budget debate.
That request was overruled by the magistrate, who declined the attempt to delay the proceedings.
Dhurjon had argued that it would be oppressive for the younger Mohamed, who is the leader of the We Invest in Nationhood party and the Opposition Leader, to sit in parliament late into the night and attend court each morning.
However, the party’s leader had been noticeably absent for most of last week’s parliamentary sessions.
Notably, after making his contributions on the final day for the 2026 Budget debate last Friday, Mohamed was observed promptly exiting the House.
The Mohameds—owners of Mohamed’s Enterprise—remain on $150,000 bail each, have surrendered their passports, and must report weekly to the Ruimveldt Police Station as the extradition proceedings continue. They were taken into custody on October 31, 2025, following a U.S. request for their extradition.
U.S. prosecutors have accused the father and son of running an international criminal network with alleged links to high offices in Venezuela and the Middle East.
The pair face 11 criminal counts in the U.S. Southern District of Florida involving alleged wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and customs violations tied to what authorities describe as a US$50 million gold- export and tax-evasion scheme.
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned both men in June 2024 for alleged gold smuggling and public corruption.
