Questions regarding the handling of extradition requests took center stage during Thursday’s hearing involving U.S.-indicted businessman Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, returned to the stand for further cross-examination by defense attorney Siand Dhurjon. The day primarily focused on the procedures for receiving and transferring extradition documents.
Roopchand-Edwards detailed the established channels for managing extradition requests. She explained that once the Ministry of Foreign Affairs receives a request, it is forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs following longstanding protocols. Should she personally receive the documents, she may deliver them directly to the Minister of Home Affairs. In her absence, the Head of the Legal Department would handle the transfer.
She emphasized that these procedures are governed by strict confidentiality due to the sensitive nature of extradition matters. If the Head of the Legal Department is unavailable, ministry officials communicate internally to determine who is authorized to receive the documents. If no competent officer is available, arrangements would be made with the relevant embassy for future delivery.
Dhurjon questioned the consistency of these protocols in this case, particularly regarding the timing of document transfers and the individuals authorized to handle them. Magistrate Judy Latchman ruled out several lines of questioning on grounds of relevance.
Before the proceedings began, both defense and prosecution attorneys approached the magistrate per a request from defense counsel. Latchman inquired whether Dhurjon had received submissions from the prosecution, to which he confirmed receipt of the information on the evening of February 25, which included references to a paper committal process.
Nazar Mohamed, who had been absent from the prior two hearings due to illness, was present on Thursday. When asked if he would consent to proceedings continuing without him should he become unwell, he stated he would do his best to attend all future hearings.
Both Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed are currently out on $150,000 bail pending the outcome of the case. The court will be on leave from March 2 to March 9, 2026, with the case adjourned until March 12.
