–rejects claims of presidential directive over his involvement in extradition case

SENIOR Superintendent of Police Prem Narine, head of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch Unit, told the court on Monday that intelligence in his possession has led him to regard US-indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed as both a threat to society and a national security threat.
Narine made the assertion during continued cross-examination in the extradition proceedings involving Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, who are under United States (US) sanctions and facing an 11-count indictment in that North American country.
The proceedings continued before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The Special Branch Unit is responsible for gathering and assessing intelligence relating to national security, including threats to public safety, organised crime and other matters that could affect the security of the State.
The national security issue arose as attorney Siand Dhurjon, one of the lawyers representing the Mohameds, questioned Narine about his assessment of Azruddin Mohamed and his involvement in the extradition matter.
Dhurjon asked: “You don’t believe Azruddin Mohamed is a threat to national security?”
Narine responded: “Based on information that I have, I would consider Azruddin Mohamed a threat to national security.”
Earlier, Narine had told the court that he was aware the Opposition Leader was “a threat to society.”
The defence subsequently turned its attention to whether political considerations had influenced Narine’s involvement in the matter and the circumstances surrounding the Mohameds’ arrests.

Dhurjon suggested that President Dr Irfaan Ali had instructed Narine to become involved in the matter. Narine rejected the suggestion outright.
“Definitely not,” he said.
He then explained that an instruction from the President was something he would remember, and added that the police are not bound to follow an instruction if it is illegal/unlawful.
The senior cop testified, “While it is a privilege for the President to give an instruction, myself or another officer is not bound to follow the instructions if it is illegal.”
The defence also suggested that Narine had been specifically instructed to ensure that the Mohameds, particularly Azruddin, were arrested before Parliament was convened on Monday, November 3, 2025.
Narine initially said he could not recall receiving such an instruction.
When the court sought clarification, he was more definitive.
The witness responded, “To be clear, I did not receive any instructions of that nature.”
The Senior Superintendent had previously testified that the Mohameds were arrested in Georgetown on Friday, October 31, 2025, pursuant to warrants that he executed.
The defence counsel also questioned Narine about whether the government had adopted a particular posture towards the Mohameds before their arrests.
Narine said he was not aware of such a posture.
The lawyer then questioned the policeman about public statements allegedly made by President Ali regarding Mohamed.
Dhurjon asked whether Narine was aware that the President had made a televised statement describing Azruddin Mohamed as a threat to national security and sovereignty.
Narine stated he was not aware of the President’s statement.

The extradition proceedings had been pre-fixed for Tuesday, September 8, Wednesday, September 9, and Thursday, September 10.
However, the matter cannot proceed on Tuesday because the Mohameds are required to appear before Justice Nigel Niles in the High Court in Demerara.
The appearance is in connection with contempt proceedings the Mohameds have brought against social media personality Mikhail Rodrigues, popularly known as the “Guyanese Critic,” and the High Court matter takes precedence over the lower court proceedings.
The extradition hearing also cannot continue on Wednesday, as the Chief Magistrate is scheduled to attend a meeting. The proceedings are therefore expected to resume on Thursday, September 10, with further cross-examination of the police witness.
The extradition case stems from a request by the United States for the surrender of the Mohameds to face an 11-count federal indictment.
U.S. prosecutors alleged that the two businessmen participated in a multi-year scheme involving the export of Guyanese gold using falsified customs declarations and reused government export seals. The alleged gold-export scheme resulted in the evasion of more than US$50 million in taxes and royalties owed in connection with Guyanese gold exports.
Prosecutors also alleged that Azruddin Mohamed evaded more than US$1 million in Guyanese taxes in relation to the importation of a Lamborghini.
The indictment includes allegations of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs offences. The Mohameds have denied the allegations.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned both men in 2024 over allegations linked to corruption and gold smuggling. They were subsequently indicted by prosecutors in 2025 on related charges in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Both men have mounted several legal challenges to the extradition process in Guyana, contesting various aspects of the proceedings and seeking to prevent their surrender to U.S. authorities
The Mohameds were each granted $150,000 bail and are required to surrender their passports and report weekly to Ruimveldt Police Station.