THE contempt case involving Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, his father, businessman Nazar Mohamed, and social media personality Mikhail Rodrigues, popularly known as the “Guyanese Critic,” has been adjourned to November.
The move removes an immediate clash with the extradition proceedings being fought by both Mohameds.
The contempt proceedings concern orders made in a defamation case brought by the Mohameds against Rodrigues and his media company, They Break News Inc.
In July 2024, Justice Nigel Niles, sitting in the Demerara High Court, entered default judgement against Rodrigues and the company and awarded the Mohameds a combined $52 million in damages over broadcasts made about them.
Justice Niles also imposed a permanent injunction restricting Rodrigues and the company from repeating, publishing or otherwise disseminating the statements that were the subject of the defamation case, as well as similar material concerning the Mohameds.
It is alleged breaches of those restrictions that subsequently brought Rodrigues before the court on contempt proceedings.
Rodrigues has challenged the judgement and injunction at different stages of the judicial system. His challenges were unsuccessful before Justice Niles, the Full Court and the Court of Appeal, leaving the injunction intact.
He has since taken the matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), seeking redress. However, no stay has been granted by the regional court, allowing Justice Niles to proceed with the contempt proceedings.
The latest development came Tuesday when the contempt proceedings were called before Justice Niles. The court was informed that Rodrigues was unwell and had been taken to hospital on Monday.
His attorney, Sanjeev Datadin, had contacted the court and requested an adjournment on the basis of his client’s illness.
Justice Niles granted the request but cautioned that any further health-related inability to attend court would have to be supported by a medical certificate.
The judge also indicated that he wanted the nearly two-year-old matter concluded and fixed November 23 at 9 a.m. for its continuation.
Attorney-at-Law Eusi Anderson, appearing for the Mohameds, meanwhile told the court that Rodrigues appeared to have reduced his alleged breaches of the orders.
Anderson described this as an “abatement of infractions,” explaining that Rodrigues had, to some extent, complied with the restrictions on certain publications and words concerning the Mohameds.
With the contempt hearing now set for November, it is no longer competing for court time with the extradition proceedings being heard by Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The extradition hearing was scheduled for four days this week—Monday through Thursday—but Tuesday’s proceedings could not go ahead because the High Court matter took precedence.
The extradition proceedings will also not be heard Wednesday, September 9, as Chief Magistrate Latchman is scheduled to attend a meeting.
Further proceedings are expected on Thursday, September 10, when Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine, head of the Special Branch Unit, is expected to continue giving evidence under cross-examination.
The Mohameds are resisting a U.S. request for their extradition to face an 11-count federal indictment in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
U.S. prosecutors accused the father and son of participating in a multi-year scheme involving the export of Guyanese gold through falsified customs declarations and the reuse of government export seals.
The alleged scheme, according to the indictment, resulted in more than US$50 million in taxes and royalties being evaded.
Azruddin Mohamed also faced an allegation that he avoided more than US$1 million in Guyanese taxes in connection with the importation of a Lamborghini.
The indictment contained charges and allegations relating to wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs offences.
The Mohameds have denied the allegations and have mounted a series of legal challenges to the extradition process in Guyana, most of which have been unsuccessful.
Both men remain on $150,000 bail each pending the continuation of the extradition hearing, with conditions requiring them to surrender their passports and report weekly to the Ruimveldt Police Station.
