Extradition proceedings involving Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed were adjourned for three days on Wednesday after repeated disruptions — including illness, religious observance and scheduling conflicts — hampered the committal hearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
When the matter resumed before Magistrate Judy Latchman, defence attorney Siand Dhurjon, who represents Nazar, failed to appear. Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, acting for Azruddin, told the court he had just received word that Dhurjon would be absent; Dhurjon later notified the court clerk that he was unwell. Despite the absence, Magistrate Latchman ordered that proceedings continue.
The magistrate permitted Forde to continue with the cross‑examination of Permanent Secretary Sharon Roopchand‑Edwards of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Nazar Mohamed, appearing in court without his lawyer, told the magistrate he was uncertain how to proceed. The magistrate said the accused’s direct involvement at this stage was limited and allowed the hearing to move forward.
Complicating the schedule further, Forde disclosed that co‑counsel Damien DaSilva was attending to a family matter and might need to withdraw from the case. The prosecution, led by Glen Hanoman, expressed concern about the repeated interruptions and urged the court to guard against abuse of process. Hanoman also suggested Azruddin consider retaining additional counsel to avoid future delays.
Forde maintained that the interruptions were not tactical. He explained that the Mohamed family was observing Eid — marking the end of a month of fasting — and that the day was a significant religious observance for them. He also said he had prior court commitments in the High Court and Court of Appeal on Thursday and the following Monday, constraining his availability.
Magistrate Latchman acknowledged the need to respect religious observance while ensuring the case proceeds. Taking into account illness, the religious holiday and counsel’s other commitments, she adjourned the matter until Tuesday, March 23, warning that no further delays would be tolerated. “If anything else arises, the accused will have to represent himself,” she cautioned.
The hearing will resume with further cross‑examination of Permanent Secretary Roopchand‑Edwards, whose testimony has focused on diplomatic correspondence and internal records relating to Guyana’s handling of the United States’ October 2025 extradition request.
