Magistrate clears way for prosecution in Mohameds extradition case

Businessman Nazar and son, Azruddin Mohamed

The extradition committal hearing for businessman Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed, formally began on Tuesday in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, with the prosecution calling its first witness after the court rejected renewed defence efforts to halt the proceedings.

The case opened with testimony from Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, who was called by the prosecution to lead its evidence. Her appearance marked the start of the evidentiary phase of the hearing, which will determine whether the two men should be committed for extradition.
Proceedings moved ahead after Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman made it clear from the bench that no court had granted a stay of the matter.

“There is no stay granted in this matter. Prosecutor, call your first witness,” the magistrate said, dismissing an application by the defence to pause the case.
The ruling came a day after acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh refused an application seeking to stay the extradition proceedings. Despite that decision, the defence served a Notice of Appeal on Magistrate Latchman on Tuesday, informing the court that they had moved to challenge the Chief Justice’s ruling before the Full Court.

Defence attorneys argued that the committal proceedings should be suspended while constitutional issues raised in their motion are considered by the High Court. However, Magistrate Latchman ruled that the mere filing of an appeal did not amount to a stay and that no order had been issued by any court preventing the matter from continuing.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, has previously criticised the defence’s legal challenges, describing them as attempts to delay the extradition process through what he termed frivolous litigation.
With no stay in force, the court allowed the prosecution to proceed, and Roopchand-Edwards took the witness stand as the first witness in the case. The extradition committal hearing is expected to continue with further testimony as the prosecution presents its case, while parallel legal challenges pursued by the defence remain pending before the higher courts.