THE extradition proceedings involving US-indicted businessmen Azruddin Mohamed and Nazar Mohamed has been delayed once again, as Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, on Monday, accepted a medical excuse submitted by the defence team for the younger Mohamed.
The case, which has received widespread criticism for its slow pace, was further delayed because of Azruddin’s supposed contraction of dengue fever.
His medical excuse follows previous occasions where the case was pushed back because his father was supposedly ill.
Magistrate Latchman in her ruling on Tuesday, determined that Azruddin’s dengue diagnosis, along with the recovery period prescribed by his doctor, made it impractical for the matter to proceed at this time.
The proceedings have been rescheduled for April 7 to 10 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, with hearings set to run daily from 09:00 hrs to 15:30 hrs.
The court was told that the younger Mohamed was diagnosed with dengue earlier on Monday and instructed to rest for 12 days.
Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, representing Azruddin, submitted supporting medical documentation, including laboratory results and a doctor’s report, to justify the request for an adjournment.
Forde informed the court that his client is suffering from symptoms including fever and severe headaches, and was taking prescribed medication that induces drowsiness.
He argued that these effects will significantly limit his ability to meaningfully participate in the proceedings.
Forde further submitted that even a virtual appearance would not be feasible under the circumstances, because of the impact of the illness and medication on his client’s alertness and coherence.
Dr. Kawal Dalip, who was summoned to give evidence, explained that his diagnosis was initially based on clinical symptoms observed in the patient and was subsequently supported by laboratory testing conducted at his medical facility.
He operates the Kawal Dalip Medical Centre at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
He stated that while the 12-day rest period represents the upper limit, a reassessment of Azruddin Mohamed’s condition is expected within approximately 10 days.
Dr. Dalip also cautioned that the medication prescribed to treat the illness could leave Azruddin intermittently incoherent, which would hinder his ability to follow and respond to the proceedings, whether in person or via virtual means.
Prosecutor Glenn Hanoman strongly opposed the application for an adjournment, raising concerns about the timing and reliability of the medical findings presented to the court.
He pointed to what he described as inconsistencies in the evidence, including the suggestion that a diagnosis might have been made before laboratory confirmation was obtained.
Hanoman argued that the laboratory sample was submitted at 11:50 hrs, while the diagnosis was reportedly made at 11:30 hrs, which he described as “an impossibility.”
Dr. Dalip, however, claimed that such a scenario was not impossible.
The prosecutor also scrutinised the test results, raising questions about whether they indeed belonged to Azruddin, particularly in light of a positive sickle cell reading and the absence of PCR-based testing.
Dr. Dalip dismissed the sickle cell result as a false positive and maintained confidence in his overall diagnosis.
Hanoman further indicated that he intends to verify whether Azruddin actually visited the medical facility by seeking access to CCTV footage and by questioning medical technologist Joel Semple. He also questioned the reason for Azruddin’s visit to Dr. Dalip, noting that the doctor is registered with the Guyana Medical Council as an obstetrician-gynaecologist.
Additionally, the prosecutor called for fresh testing to be conducted at a laboratory equipped with PCR capabilities. He told the court that he had been advised that dengue cases typically require no more than five days of sick leave.
Dr. Dalip, however, claimed that patients can be given up to 14 days of rest depending on the severity of their condition.
He maintained that the medical advice provided in this case was appropriate and justified based on Azruddin’s symptoms and diagnosis.
Hanoman also expressed concern over the defence’s refusal to agree to further testing, suggesting that independent verification would be necessary to confirm the diagnosis. However, the defence strongly opposed any additional testing.
Forde defended the integrity of the medical report, describing Dr. Dalip as a reputable medical practitioner and asserting that there was no valid basis to question the findings presented. He also made it clear that Azruddin would not be subjecting himself to further testing.
Additionally, Forde highlighted that the laboratory which conducted the initial tests is certified by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), further supporting its credibility.
After considering the arguments presented by both sides, Magistrate Latchman accepted the medical evidence and granted the adjournment, thereby allowing the extradition proceedings to resume next month.
BACKGROUND
On the morning of October 31, 2025, the two businessmen were taken into custody in Georgetown following an extradition request from the United States, which had been transmitted the previous day.
The father, 72, and son, 39, are the subject of an 11-count indictment filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. They are jointly charged on 10 of those counts, while Azruddin Mohamed faces an additional charge relating to the importation of a 2020 Lamborghini Roadster SVJ into Guyana.
Court filings allege that the two conspired to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and customs-related offences, including conspiracy, aiding and abetting. The allegations are linked to what investigators describe as a US$50 million gold export and tax evasion scheme.
The indictment was handed down by a grand jury in October 2025.
According to the documents, Nazar Mohamed holds a 90 per cent stake in Mohamed’s Enterprise, while his son owns the remaining 10 per cent. The most serious charge carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
In June 2024, both men and their associated companies were sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, a division of the United States Department of the Treasury, over allegations of gold smuggling and large-scale corruption. The sanctions announcement also referenced claims that more than US$50 million in taxes owed to the Guyanese state had been evaded.
It is believed that the United States authorities began investigating the Mohameds as far back as the mid-2010s. The probe reportedly involved intelligence sharing and law-enforcement co-operation between Guyana and the United States.
Several American agencies were involved in the investigation, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Prosecutors allege that between 2017 and 2024 the two businessmen participated in a scheme to export large quantities of gold from Guyana to the United States using falsified customs declarations and reused government export seals.
Investigators claim the operation enabled the shipment of more than 10,000 kilogrammes of gold while avoiding the payment of taxes and royalties owed to the Guyanese state.
United States authorities further contend that the alleged scheme resulted in approximately US$50 million in losses to taxes and duties and involved acts of wire and mail fraud, money laundering and conspiracy.
The indictment also references a shipment of gold valued at approximately US$5.3 million that was seized at Miami International Airport during the course of the investigation.
Following the indictment, the United States formally sought the surrender of the two men under the extradition arrangements between the two countries, giving rise to the ongoing proceedings now before the local court.
