General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has challenged the integrity of businessman Azruddin Mohamed in light of criminal charges laid against him, questioning the sincerity of his bid for political office.
Speaking at his weekly press briefing, Jagdeo’s remarks came hours after Mohamed appeared in court to answer tax evasion and fraud charges related to the under-invoicing of a US$695,000 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster, which he allegedly declared to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) at only US$75,300.
The GRA claims the falsified invoice resulted in over $383 million in lost tax revenue.
Jagdeo accused Mohamed and his supporters of attempting to reframe the legal proceedings as political persecution.
“They want you to believe these charges are because he announced a run for the presidency,” Jagdeo said, referencing Mohamed’s recent declaration that he will contest the next general elections. “They invoke the name of God and play the victim in the public domain.”
In a direct challenge to Mohamed’s claims of moral leadership, Jagdeo said, “He promised to uphold integrity. Now you decide for yourself if the word ‘integrity’ can be associated with the Mohameds.”
He pointed to Mohamed’s social media presence and public relations efforts, which portray a carefully curated image of benevolence. But Jagdeo urged citizens to look beyond the surface.
“It is in unguarded moments that you see the true nature of individuals,” he said, referencing a recent viral outburst in which Mohamed used foul language toward a reporter when confronted by the press outside court.
“If a member of the PPP or even the PNC had done that, there would’ve been a thousand condemnations,” Jagdeo added. “This is the kind of person we’re dealing with—one who explodes when asked to account for his actions.”
In his remarks, Jagdeo also revived a chilling incident from November 2010, reported by Stabroek News, in which three security guards were allegedly tortured after being accused of theft at Mohamed’s family-owned business. The guards—a 62-year-old, a 56-year-old, and a 59-year-old—were allegedly beaten with baseball bats, gagged, doused with soapy water, and threatened with death by employees at Mohamed’s Lombard Street premises. Two guards reportedly suffered broken bones and serious injuries.
Jagdeo noted that Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, Azruddin’s father, later apologised for the incident. “This apology was made quietly, away from cameras. That’s the real nature of these individuals,” he stated. He further criticised the apparent double standards in media portrayal, saying Mohamed’s charitable work has been amplified by sympathetic media outfits while serious allegations against him are downplayed.
The Vice President cautioned citizens not to be swayed by online campaigns. “You can put on a suit and tie and craft any image with the right social media team, but when confronted, the truth surfaces,” he said.
Mohamed, who remains out on $500,000 bail, has denied wrongdoing and maintains that the charges are politically motivated. His case is scheduled to return to court on June 26, 2025.
