Despite being under U.S. sanctions, criminal indictment and facing extradition to the United States on serious charges, businessman Azruddin Mohamed of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party was on Monday sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP).
WIN, in a string of press releases, sought to cast the moment as “historic,” but some say it is nothing to celebrate. Instead, it marks a low point, the first time in Guyana’s history that an individual sanctioned and indicted by the United States Government for gold smuggling, money laundering and other related crimes has taken a seat in the National Assembly.
The opening of Guyana’s 13th Parliament took place on Monday afternoon at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where all Members of Parliament, both government and non-government, took their oaths of office.
Mohamed arrived in the Lamborghini, which is the subject of the U.S investigation for evading millions of dollars in taxes; his driver revved the vehicle upon arrival, which some say is a show of defiance to his pending extradition.
As a Muslim, Mohamed used the Quran while taking his oath.
Leader of the APNU parliamentary team, Dr Terrence Campbell, has said that Mohamed should be guided by the Westminster convention, which dictates that politicians facing criminal charges should resign.
Mohamed’s WIN party secured 16 of the 29 non-government seats in the new Parliament, putting him in line to be elected Leader of the Opposition once the administrative processes are completed. But his elevation comes even as he remains before the local courts fighting extradition to the United States, where he is wanted on multiple criminal charges.
Some sources close to WIN have suggested that Mohamed hopes his status as an MP will strengthen his fight against extradition. But legal experts have dismissed that notion outright.
Members of Parliament, including the Opposition Leader, have no immunity from criminal prosecution under Guyana’s Constitution. Being sworn in as an MP does not shield anyone from extradition or ongoing court proceedings.
Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, were arrested in Georgetown last Friday following an extradition request from the U.S. government. Both men, who were previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department, are currently on $150,000 bail each, have lodged their passports, and must report weekly to the police as the extradition case proceeds.
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