–– US Department of Justice being kept informed of ‘startling developments’
NOTING that the State has a duty to protect the justice system from interference and perversions, the Government of Guyana (GoG) last night said it is deeply concerned about a “serious” incident outside the house of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, a “critical” witness in the ongoing extradition proceedings involving the Mohameds.
One of the parties in the case, Azruddin Mohamed have since admitted that he and two others were “filming” the senior cop’s home, the government said in a statement. At the time, they were in a heavily tinted car.
It added that the rank responded to gunshots by firing his service weapon. The vehicle was later intercepted.
This development comes after Narine had indicated to the Magistrate hearing the extradition case that he fears for his life and the safety of his family.
The following is the full text of a statement released by the Government of Guyana on Tuesday night:
“The Government of Guyana notes with deep concern, the attempt to pervert the facts surrounding the serious incident that occurred last night involving Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed.
No amount of obfuscation, concoction or Facebook trolling will be allowed to contradict the factually verifiable narrative and the far-reaching legal implications that ensue. The law must be allowed to take its course.
The uncontroverted facts already in the public domain are that Azruddin Mohamed and two of his henchmen were, on his own admission, “filming” the home of Senior Superintendent of Police, Prem Narine, situated at Barr Street, Kitty, around midnight last night. They were in a dark coloured, heavily tined car.
Gunshots rang out from the car. Spent shells were found on the road in close proximity to Narine’s home.
Using his service handgun, Narine opened fire at the car. A chase then followed by law enforcement officers. The car was intercepted and Mohamed was in the back seat of the car; the two other persons were in the front seat. An unlicenced firearm was found in the car. The trio were arrested and are in police custody.
It is public knowledge that Senior Superintendent Narine is currently on the witness stand testifying in the Mohameds’ ongoing extradition case at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He is a critical witness. It is public knowledge that Mohamed’s Facebook page posted photographs of Narine and his family, including his minor son, with President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, attempting to insinuate some impropriety.
It is public knowledge that as a result, Narine under oath, complained to the presiding Magistrate that he fears for his life and the safety of his family, including his minor son. It is also public knowledge that Narine said, under oath, that Mohamed is a threat to national security and that according to information acquired by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Mohamed is implicated in several killings.
The legal implications here are many and far reaching. Witnesses have already turned up dead in murder investigations implicating Mohamed. The ramifications here would not only affect the safety of witnesses testifying in the ongoing extradition case in Guyana, but it has implications for the criminal justice system of the United Stated of America (USA). It is common knowledge that the extradition proceedings here are merely preliminary to a criminal trial, likely to take place in the US, once Mohamed is extradited.
Multiple serious criminal offences arise for consideration out of last night’s incident. The investigations are ongoing by the law enforcement agencies of the State. The State has a duty to protect its justice system from interference and perversions. Witnesses are key to any justice system. They must always feel safe when they testify. It is the State’s duty to protect them. The State will do so. The full force of the law will be applied.
The Department of Justice of the United States is being kept informed of these startling developments.”
