–points to possibility of investigation revealing offences of treason, an attempted coup or an assassination plot

PROSECUTOR and attorney-at-law Glenn Hanoman, on Friday, raised an alarm over the presence of U.S.-sanctioned and criminally indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed near President Dr Irfaan Ali’s private residence at Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

The issue emerged during the ongoing extradition hearing against Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed.

Speaking to reporters after the proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Hanoman said the circumstances surrounding Mohamed’s presence near the President’s home were concerning, particularly as police continue to investigate what he described as potentially serious offences.

Hanoman said it was his responsibility as a prosecutor to bring any changes in circumstances or possible breaches of bail conditions to the court’s attention.

He also pointed to the Bail Act 2022, arguing that the court should consider the position of a person on bail if there is a likelihood that the person could be charged with a serious offence.

However, Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman declined to revoke or vary Mohamed’s bail, finding that the prosecution had not placed sufficient evidence before the court to justify such a step.

The bail issue arose during the extradition proceedings after Hanoman asked the court to consider whether Mohamed had breached his bail conditions.

The matter stemmed from a police investigation launched after Mohamed was among three men taken to the Leonora Police Station on Thursday night after a vehicle in which he was travelling was intercepted near President Ali’s private residence.

Police said ranks acted on reports that occupants of a black Toyota Land Cruiser were operating a drone in the area.

The vehicle was stopped along the Windsor Forest Public Road, West Coast Demerara, where ranks reportedly found a DJI drone in the trunk, along with four cellphones.

Mohamed was travelling in the vehicle with driver Eugene Thorne, 35, and technician Dwayne Ross, 25.

Mohamed denied owning or operating the drone and was subsequently released on self-bail. Ross reportedly told police that the drone belonged to him, while acknowledging that his operator’s licence had expired in 2023.

In a separate incident nearby, police intercepted another vehicle and questioned its driver, 20-year-old Mario Mohamed.

Follow-up searches at the men’s residences reportedly led to the discovery of a second drone at Ross’s home. The police investigation remains ongoing.

During the hearing, Hanoman said the investigation was still at an early stage, with police seeking to determine whether surveillance was being conducted and what, if anything, may have been planned.

He raised the possibility that the investigation could uncover offences as serious as treason, an attempted coup or an assassination plot.

Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, who represented the Mohameds, opposed any interference with his client’s bail.

Following Latchman’s ruling, Mohamed remains on bail subject to the existing conditions.

The father and son remain on $150,000 bail following their arrests on October 31, 2025.

Their bail conditions include the surrender of their passports and weekly reporting to the Ruimveldt Police Station.

The extradition hearing is expected to resume on Monday, September 7, with Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine set to face further cross-examination.

Proceedings were adjourned at noon on Friday after the Mohameds were granted an afternoon break to attend a funeral, despite the hearing having been scheduled to continue for the full day.

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, allegedly resulting in the evasion of more than US$50 million in taxes and royalties.

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.