OPPOSITION Leader Azruddin Mohamed has admitted to circling the home of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, Head of Special Branch, twice before his arrest by police.
Narine is a key witness in the extradition proceedings involving Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mohamed, despite not providing video evidence, insisted that neither he nor his driver stopped or exited their vehicle near Narine’s residence.
He sought to justify his presence in the area by invoking the mandate of his constitutional office, while rejecting any suggestion of wrongdoing. He also denied any attempt to interfere with a key witness.
Mohamed’s account of why he was there has raised further questions. He confirmed that he was heading to a school at approximately 23:00 hrs to investigate an incident that had reportedly occurred about 10 hours earlier, even though he had already spoken with the children’s parents about the matter.
That explanation sits uneasily alongside his admission that he circled the home of a witness in his own extradition matter, not once but twice.
The circumstances have prompted more questions about the purpose of the late-night trip and about whether his actions could amount to witness tampering or an attempt to obstruct the course of justice, particularly given the reported scrutiny of the security arrangements surrounding the witness’s home.
At the same press conference, Mohamed continued to allege police misconduct and political victimisation. He claimed an officer had fired at his vehicle, pointing to alleged bullet holes and presenting video footage in support of his account.
However, the footage viewed by this news agency did not clearly establish his claims or determine who fired the alleged shots. His allegations therefore remain subject to independent verification.
According to police, Narine reported hearing what appeared to be a gunshot as a black Toyota Allion, registration number PXX 5300, approached his residence. The senior officer said he took cover and discharged several rounds from his service firearm in the direction of the vehicle, which then drove away.
Narine also disclosed that he had previously observed the vehicle monitoring his residence.
The vehicle was later intercepted at the junction of Vlissengen Road and Sandy Babb Street, Kitty. Its occupants were identified as Azruddin, 39; Mario Mohamed, 25; and Eugene Thorne, 35, all of whom were arrested.
The three men were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and attempting to obstruct the course of justice. They were each granted bail of $750,000.