A High Court judge on Saturday granted a temporary injunction preventing the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) from seizing vehicles owned by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, pending the outcome of a legal dispute over alleged unpaid taxes.
Justice Gino Persaud issued the temporary order after Mohamed challenged the GRA’s attempts to recover what it claims are outstanding duties. The injunction will remain in place until the court rules on the substantive matter.
“At a further hearing at 3:30 p.m., the learned judge further extended the order until Thursday, 10 April 2025, within which time the GRA must file responses to Mr Mohamed’s application for a judicial review and a full injunction,” the GRA said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, a routine tax enforcement operation carried out by the Guyana Revenue Authority escalated into a tense confrontation, as law enforcement officers attempting to seize luxury vehicles from Mohamed were met by an angry mob at his Houston residence.
The GRA claims that the businessman owes the government GY$900 million in taxes for the vehicles.
In an earlier release, the GRA said the operation followed repeated notices and a month-long period during which the Mohamed family was given the opportunity to settle the outstanding taxes or surrender the vehicles to the authority.
According to the release, officers visited the property that morning to enforce compliance after earlier attempts to engage Mohamed had failed.
However, upon arrival, the officers — who were outfitted with body cameras — were refused entry and reportedly faced resistance from a crowd that included women, children, and members of the media.
The tax agency claimed that Mohamed questioned the officers’ authority, directed them to speak to his attorneys, and then called out a group of supporters from his yard and nearby areas.
It noted that the situation quickly became volatile, with the crowd allegedly issuing threats and forcing the officers to retreat in fear for their safety.
