Gunfire near police witness' home in extradition case, Guyana briefs US
A shot was fired outside the home of a senior Guyanese police officer key to a US extradition case. Opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed was arrested after his car passed the scene twice.
Shooting near witness' home rattles high-profile extradition proceedings
Guyana is briefing the United States Department of Justice after a gunshot was fired outside the home of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, the Guyana Police Force intelligence chief and a principal witness in ongoing court hearings for the extradition of two wealthy Guyanese businessmen, demerarawaves.com reported on Tuesday.
"The Department of Justice of the United States is being kept informed of these startling developments," the Guyana government said in an official statement.
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and two other individuals were arrested after their vehicle was observed passing Narine's Barr Street, Kitty residence twice around midnight on Monday when the gunshot sound was heard. Police say they recovered one .32 handgun beneath the accelerator pedal of the car, along with one .32 spent shell inside the vehicle, while four 9mm spent shells were found outside Narine's home. Mohamed and his lawyer, Siand Dhurjon, denied the weapon was theirs, accusing police of planting the pistol during the search.
The two other people arrested were identified as Mario Mohamed, 25, of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, and Eugene Thorne, 35, also of Timehri, a driver by profession.
Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar 'Shell' Mohamed, are sought by US authorities to stand trial on charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering linked to their gold trading business.
The Guyana government warned that the legal implications of the incident were "many and far-reaching," noting that the extradition proceedings are preliminary to a criminal trial expected to take place in the United States. "The ramifications here would not only affect the safety of witnesses testifying in the ongoing extradition case in Guyana, but it has implications for the criminal justice system of the United States of America," the government statement reads.
The Irfaan Ali-led administration also pointed to photographs posted on Mohamed's Facebook page showing Narine and members of his family, including his minor son, together with President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali. Government said Narine had already complained under oath to the presiding Magistrate that he feared for his life and the safety of his family. In sworn testimony, Narine also stated that the younger Mohamed posed a threat to national security and that, according to information held by the Guyana Police Force, Mohamed is implicated in several alleged killings.
Lawyer Dhurjon told reporters Tuesday that his clients were innocent and that he expected the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Police Legal Adviser to recommend against bringing charges. "I didn't think there could be any prospect of success if charges are laid and if they were to seek the advice of any responsible attorney of government such as the DPP or the PLA, they would be duty bound in a properly functioning society to advise that no charges be laid for lack of evidence," Dhurjon said. He added that the Mohameds' legal team remained on standby to seek bail if necessary.
The government indicated that "multiple serious criminal offences arise for consideration" from Monday night's events and vowed to deploy the full force of the law to protect witnesses. "The State has a duty to protect its justice system from interference and perversions. Witnesses are key to any justice system. They must always feel safe when they testify," the statement said. Investigations by state law enforcement agencies are continuing.
Source: Google News GY — Crime