Guyana appeals court rules extradition case against opposition leader must continue
Magistrate's court hearings against Azruddin Mohamed and his father resume on September 4, but no final ruling may be given until a constitutional appeal is heard.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana. A Guyanese appeals court has ruled that extradition proceedings against opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed must continue in the magistrate's court next month, despite a pending constitutional motion.
Mohamed, 39, had asked the appeals court to rule on the constitutionality of the Fugitive Offenders Act. A panel of the court ruled on Thursday that hearings in the magistrate's court can continue while the appeals court prepares to hear the motion in the coming weeks.
However, the judges said the magistrate must withhold her final ruling on Mohamed and his father, businessman Nazar Mohamed, until the constitutional motion has been heard.
"It is hereby ordered that the extradition proceedings in the magistrate's court involving the appellants are to proceed, howsoever, that the final disposition of the said proceedings by the presiding magistrate is stayed until the hearing and determination of this appeal," the order stated.
Hearings resume on September 4 and will run until the case is concluded.
From new party to opposition leader
Mohamed formed the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party just three months before general elections a year ago. It won 16 seats, overtaking the then main opposition party to become the second largest in parliament and making him opposition leader.
US charges
US authorities have asked Guyana to extradite Mohamed and his father over alleged gold smuggling, money laundering and other financial crimes.
The US Treasury Department has also formally sanctioned the pair, prompting local officials to close their foreign exchange cambio dealerships, gold buying, mining and other operations, and to bar local businesses from financial dealings with them.
The Southern District of Florida has also brought an 11-count indictment against them for allegedly taking part in a gold export and tax evasion scheme that avoided US$50 million in taxes owed to Guyana.
The pair have denied the charges.
