Chief Magistrate upholds bail for opposition leader as extradition hearing resumes

(Kaieteur News) – Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday ruled that past conduct without a conviction or a pending conviction does not constitute sufficient grounds to revoke the bail granted to Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed in his ongoing extradition proceedings.

The ruling came in response to an application submitted by the prosecution seeking the revocation of Mohamed’s bail, following his recent remand to prison in connection to an unrelated cybercrime charge. Refusing the prosecution’s application, Chief Magistrate Latchman ordered that Mohamed’s bail conditions in the extradition matter remain fully intact. The court proceedings subsequently resumed at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and will continue today at 9am.

During the session, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, representing the defence, cross-examined head of the Special Branch, Prem Narine, scrutinising the procedures surrounding the surveillance of the accused, police record-keeping, and the chain of custody for legal documents received from the Ministry of Legal Affairs.