The United States has “hard evidence” against indicted Guyanese businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed and is confident of a conviction if they are extradited to face charges in America, U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot said.
Speaking on the Sources podcast, Theriot distanced the United States from claims that the extradition could be politically motivated or intended to destabilise Guyana.
She said the U.S. has no reason to pursue charges against the Mohameds for political reasons. “We do it because we have hard, unequivocal evidence against a person. Why would we take on a case we don’t think we are going to win, that’s just a waste of the US tax payers’ money,” the Ambassador asserted.
She added: “We firmly believe that they (Mohameds) are guilty of the crime they are being indicted for, it is in the Guyanese judiciary hands at this point but we are ready to move forward.”
Theriot said the United States instituted charges to hold the Mohameds accountable. “I hope people would understand that things are being done by the books, based on the law and it’s certainly not politically motivated from our side.”
She also emphasised that the indictment is U.S.-driven. “The Government of Guyana did not indict the Mohameds and I can assure you there is nothing political about it from the US side.”
Aruddin, who is now the country’s Opposition Leader, and his father Nazar were indicted by a Miami grand jury on charges involving fraudulent gold export practices and related money laundering activities. They are currently before the Magistrate’s Court in an extradition battle.
Theriot said that if the Mohameds are not extradited, imposed sanctions against the businessmen will remain in place.
