Special Branch Chief Testifies in Extradition Hearing Over Surveillance of Azruddin Mohamed

Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has sworn in a 43-page affidavit that he is being kept in prolonged solitary confinement at Lusignan Prison, with limited family visits and harsh conditions, as part of his fight against the refusal of bail on a cybercrime charge. The Prison Service denies punitive treatment, while the High Court will hear further arguments on November 12 and 13.

In this opinion column, the writer urges Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed to publicly clarify whether he was tortured in prison, after his sister accused the Guyana Prison Service of abuse and the service denied it. The piece says his explanation matters to Guyanese because it could confirm either serious prison mistreatment or a politically damaging false claim.

A High Court judge warned that Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed must not be kept under psychologically oppressive conditions at Lusignan Prison after his lawyers alleged solitary confinement, constant lighting and sleep deprivation. Attorney General Anil Nandlall denied the claims and said the prison is following security protocols for a high-profile remand prisoner.

Supporters of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed protested outside Georgetown’s High Court on Wednesday, demanding his release after he was remanded on a charge of attempting to bribe a public official in a case linked to leaked police surveillance footage. The demonstration, backed by other opposition members and civil society, also highlighted concerns about due process, equal treatment and confidence in Guyana’s justice system.

The Guyana Prison Service says its records show remanded Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed spent about 9 hours and 20 minutes outside his holding area on Sunday, not 23 hours and 50 minutes as his family claimed. It says he received visits, phone calls, counselling, medical attention and meals, and was treated according to prison rules. The family has alleged harsh, unsafe conditions at Lusignan Prison.

APNU MP Sherod Duncan said the Government’s handling of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed in the extradition case could set a dangerous precedent for democracy and the rule of law. Speaking outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, he also raised concerns about state custody, surveillance powers and weak parliamentary oversight, citing the death of Gavin Douglas as an example of why public trust is eroding.

Forward Guyana Movement leader Amanza Walton-Desir has criticized the remand of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, warning that reported solitary confinement at Lusignan Prison could amount to harassment and set a troubling precedent. Speaking outside Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, she said Guyana’s justice system is losing public trust and urged that the extradition and related cases proceed without political theatrics.

Police Constable Ashton Chappelle has been charged under Guyana’s Cybercrime Act over the alleged downloading and transfer of police surveillance footage linked to an October 12 shooting outside senior police officer Prem Narine’s home. He was remanded to prison as investigators expand a case already involving Police Constable Ryan Greene and opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed, raising fresh questions about the handling of sensitive police data.

A protest outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts turned violent on Monday as supporters of sanctioned Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed breached police barricades, prompting officers to use tear gas and pellets. As the crowd scattered toward Stabroek Market, a small fire broke out nearby, heightening fears of wider unrest in Georgetown. পুলিশ warned against violence, while Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond urged calm and peaceful protest.

Senior Superintendent Prem Narine says attacks on him and his family are hurtful as he carries out his duties in the extradition case involving Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed. The remarks came as police charged Constable Ashton Chappelle over the alleged leak of surveillance footage tied to the October 12 shooting outside Narine’s Kitty home, deepening the wider police and legal scandal.

Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman refused the US prosecution’s bid to revoke bail for Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, saying allegations without convictions were not enough to justify detention in the extradition case. The ruling keeps their bail in place, though Azruddin Mohamed remains on remand until November 24 in a separate firearms and justice-related case.

Azruddin Mohamed’s family says his remand to Lusignan Prison followed secretive court proceedings and amounts to political victimisation, alleging harsh isolation and physical mistreatment. The Guyana Prison Service denied abuse, saying he was classified as a high-profile prisoner and treated under standard protocols, while protests and criticism from civil society grew over the case.

Former Georgetown mayor and Hindu pandit Ubraj Narine used a candlelight vigil on Sunday to criticise what he called the silence of diplomats, religious groups and business leaders over the Mohamed family’s treatment. He said their public response matters for justice and democracy, and accused some institutions of avoiding the issue because of political ties. Narine also attacked the Ali administration, urging Guyanese to speak out against unfairness.

WIN General Secretary Odessa Primus urged supporters to go beyond street protests by closing businesses, staying home from work and turning out in large numbers outside the Georgetown High Court on Monday to support opposition leader Mohamed. Speaking at a candlelight vigil, she said the detention is a national concern, accused the government of victimisation, and called for sustained public pressure.

The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy says Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed is being held in solitary confinement at Lusignan Prison, shackled and denied family visits and food, despite not being convicted of the charge he faces. It says the alleged treatment raises constitutional and human rights concerns and shows unequal handling of prisoners.

The Institute for Action Against Discrimination has called for Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s immediate release, saying his remand raises concerns about judicial independence, due process and political interference in Guyana. Mohamed and Police Constable Ryan Greene were denied bail on Cybercrime Act charges and will return to court on November 24.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress has condemned the remand of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and Police Constable Ryan Greene on Cybercrime Act charges, accusing the Ali government of using state power to silence dissent. It also denounced police handling of protests and urged Guyanese and the international community to defend constitutional rights and demand accountability.

FGM leader and MP Amanza Walton-Desir raised concerns about police conduct, the treatment of peaceful protesters and the remand of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed in a meeting with US Ambassador Nicole Theriot. She said the situation threatens rule of law, public confidence and investor confidence, and urged international partners to understand the political tensions in Guyana.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress is demanding the release of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and Police Constable Ryan Greene, saying their remand and the handling of recent protests reflect State intimidation and possible abuses of constitutional rights. It also questioned police accounts of the October 12 confrontation and warned that the case raises broader concerns about democracy, free expression and accountability in Guyana.