— Azruddin, WIN make no mention of physical assault during media interview

CONFLICTING accounts continue to emerge between Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s public remarks and allegations advanced by his We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, his sister and the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, with no medical evidence publicly presented to substantiate claims that he and two members of his staff were beaten by police.
Despite serious allegations that Mohamed, his driver Eugene Thorne and videographer Mario Mohamed were beaten, kicked and stomped upon by police officers and masked men during an October 12 incident in Kitty, the opposition leader made no mention of any physical assault when he spoke to reporters following his release on bail on Friday.
During the approximately seven-minute media interaction, Mohamed repeatedly described the incident as an assassination attempt, alleging that Senior Superintendent Prem Narine had opened fire at the vehicle in which he and his staff members were travelling.
However, at no point did he claim that he had been beaten, kicked or stomped upon, despite those allegations featuring prominently in statements issued by his office, his sister Hana Mohamed and representatives of WIN.
The omission has raised questions about the differing accounts being presented by Mohamed and those speaking on his behalf, particularly as WIN representatives have yet to publicly produce the medical reports they indicated would be provided.
Mohamed, Thorne and Mario were each granted $750,000 bail after pleading not guilty to charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
The charges stem from the October 12 shooting incident outside Narine’s Barr Street, Kitty, residence. The police have alleged that a firearm and ammunition were discovered in the vehicle occupied by the three men, while the defence disputes the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS, NO MEDICAL EVIDENCE
In a statement issued following the incident, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition alleged that the three men were forcibly removed from their vehicle, held at gunpoint and ordered to lie on the ground, where they were repeatedly beaten, kicked and stomped upon.
The statement further alleged that one of the masked men pressed his boot against Mario’s neck, while Narine allegedly pointed his firearm at Mohamed and repeatedly threatened to kill him.
The office claimed that the men sustained visible bruising and bloodshot marks and complained of significant pain while detained.
Similar allegations were made by Mohamed’s sister, Hana, on October 14, when she claimed that Narine and masked men had assaulted her brother and his staff members.
She also accused senior government officials of directing or protecting Narine, although no independently verified evidence was presented to substantiate those accusations.
However, when Mohamed addressed reporters on Friday, his account centred on the alleged gunfire, the presence of police vehicles and his concerns about his personal safety.
He made no reference to the alleged beatings described by his sister and political representatives.
Questions about the alleged assaults were also raised during a WIN press conference, where Member of Parliament Duarte Hetsberger indicated that information, including medical reports, would be provided subsequently.
No such reports were presented during that engagement.
Hetsberger also alleged that Mohamed had requested Panadol following the incident, but was refused the medication. He further claimed that the opposition leader and his staff members were subjected to poor conditions at the Kitty Police Station, including having to use cardboard boxes to sit or sleep on.
Those claims have not been independently verified.
The Office of the Leader of the Opposition has since called for independent medical examinations and an investigation into the alleged shooting, threats and assaults.
The allegations were also communicated to members of the diplomatic community, alongside claims that the firearm discovered in the vehicle had been planted.
QUESTIONS OVER CONTRADICTORY ACCOUNTS
While Mohamed’s failure to mention the alleged beatings does not establish that no assault occurred, the difference between his public account and the allegations advanced by his representatives raises questions that remain unanswered.
No independent medical findings, CCTV footage, custody records or other corroborating evidence have been publicly presented to substantiate the alleged physical assaults.
The opposition leader has repeatedly been accused of making unsubstantiated allegations and distorting facts to advance his political narrative. He has constantly portrayed the US extradition request against him and his father as politically motivated by the PPP/C government, a claim that is not true.