From Kaeiteur News

…says taxpayers must foot bill under international law

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC

(Kaieteur News) – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, has defended the Government of Guyana’s US$62,558 payment to Jamaican King’s Counsel Terrence F. Williams and his legal team for their role in the extradition proceedings against prominent businessmen Nazar Mohamed and his son Azruddin Mohamed.

Nandlall said the payment is standard international procedure, explaining that under extradition treaties, the requested country in this case, Guyana must bear the cost of legal representation, even when the case is brought by another state.

Nazar (left) and Azruddin Mohamed.

The extradition case involving the prominent gold dealers continued on Monday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. During the proceedings, the legal team representing the U.S. Government, comprising Williams, KC, Celine Deidrick, Herbert McKenzie, and local 

attorney Glenn Hanoman submitted several documents to the court, including a diplomatic note and warrants from U.S. authorities. However, the prosecution sought additional time to obtain and disclose the full set of documents from the United States.

Following the hearing, Azruddin Mohamed took to Facebook to criticise the prosecution, accusing the government of using taxpayers’ money to cover the legal fees of the Jamaican attorneys. He also alleged bias in the appointment of attorney Glenn Hanoman. “This corrupt and incompetent cabal is blatantly lying to the Guyanese people that they are not paying for their legal services,” Mohamed wrote. “Nandlall is telling Guyanese that the U.S. appointed these Jamaican prosecutors. This is another blatant lie. Taxpayers are fully footing all the bills for their hefty legal fees.”

Later that evening, Kaieteur News reported that a leaked memorandum from the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed the payment approval of US$62,558.78 (over GY$13 million) to Williams and his team for legal services provided on behalf of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The memo, dated November 3, 2025, and titled “Justification for Legal Services Provided by Terrence F. Williams KC & Team Attorneys at Law for Case of Guyana Police Force vs. Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed for Extradition Proceedings for the period of October 2025,” bears the signature and stamp of Permanent Secretary Andre Ally. It authorises the Bank of Guyana to facilitate the wire transfer of funds to the Jamaican attorneys.

For more on this story go to: Kaeiteur News