Guyana Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed arrested near Special Branch chief's home

Guyanese police arrested Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and two workers after a shooting near the home of Special Branch head Prem Narine. Mohamed claims the incident was an attempt on his life.

Opposition Leader held after gunfire outside senior officer's residence

Guyanese police arrested Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and two of his associates on Tuesday following a shooting incident near the home of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, head of the Special Branch Unit, the Jamaica Observer reports.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said it is investigating alleged discharge of a loaded firearm with intent, as well as possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence.

According to the police statement, Narine was at his Barr Street residence when he observed a black Toyota Allion, bearing registration PXX 5300, travelling slowly past his home on two occasions. On the second pass, Narine heard what he believed to be a gunshot, took cover and discharged several rounds from his service firearm toward the vehicle, which then drove away.

Officers later intercepted the car and found three occupants: Mohamed, and his workers Mario Mohamed and Eugene Thorne. The men were escorted to the Kitty Police Station. A search of the vehicle uncovered a .32 Taurus pistol without a serial number and three live rounds of .32 ammunition. A .32 spent shell was also recovered opposite Narine's residence, along with four 9mm spent shells. The firearm, ammunition and shells were lodged pending ballistic examination, and CCTV footage from the area is to be reviewed as part of the investigation.

Mohamed, however, offered a sharply different account. In a live video broadcast carried on social media by his sister, the Opposition Leader stated repeatedly that Narine had fired gunshots at the car he was travelling in, characterising the episode as an attempt on his life. He said he and his workers had gone to the area to document what he described as an abuse of state resources — namely, a large police presence stationed outside the Special Branch chief's home.

Mohamed and his lawyer, Siand Dhurjon, further alleged that the pistol found in the vehicle had been planted by police, claiming it was discovered under the accelerator pedal.

The arrest came several hours before Mohamed was scheduled to appear before the Guyana Court of Appeal for a civil case challenging the constitutionality of several provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act.

Narine, who has been giving evidence in an extradition hearing before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman, has previously characterised Mohamed as a threat to national security and cited his alleged involvement in a number of homicides. Mohamed has never been charged in connection with any of those alleged offences.

Source: Jamaica Observer