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A Guyanese businessman who faces extradition to the United States on gold smuggling and money laundering charges was elected leader of the country’s opposition on Monday, six months after he formed a party that quickly became the South American country’s second-largest party.
Azruddin Mohamed, 38, was confirmed as Leader of the Opposition in Guyana after 16 MPs from the We Invest in the Nation (WIN) party and one MP from the single-seat party voted for him. The tally makes Victory the second-largest party in parliament, ensuring Mohammed’s election even as the magistrates’ court hears the states’ arguments for his extradition to the United States.
Mohammed and his father Nazar Mohammed last year Florida Federal charges of gold smuggling and money laundering.
The U.S. Treasury Department also sanctioned the pair more than a year ago for allegedly smuggling more than 10,000 kilograms (22,000 pounds) of gold into the United States from Guyana and evading more than $50 million in taxes.
The case highlights ongoing government corruption in the oil-rich South American country.
The family was once one of Guyana’s largest gold buyers and exporters. They also run one of the most successful Forex outlets and own a large amount of real estate. After the sanctions were announced, authorities closed all their corporate and commercial bank accounts.
Monday’s brief meeting was attended only by opposition lawmakers, with pressure mounting from Western countries and civil society groups accusing authorities of delaying a parliamentary session to allow him to be elected. Until Monday, parliament had met only once since July when it was dissolved ahead of September’s general election.
Addressing the possibility that he and his father could be extradited to the United States, Mohammed said in brief remarks that “a person is innocent until proven guilty.”
He claimed that the effort to exile him had a lot to do with the fact that Victory successfully opposed the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), noting that “that’s why they brought me down”.
“I’m announcing my candidacy for the people of this country,” he said. “The people are asking me. If I don’t contest this election, I won’t have any court problems. I am ready to serve the people of this country,” he told reporters outside parliament.
House Speaker Manzoor Nadir publicly expressed his disquiet over Mohammed’s election, saying he was in a “dilemma” of having to oversee the appointment of a fugitive as the country’s opposition leader. Still, he chaired Monday’s brief meeting, ultimately congratulating Mohammed on his victory.
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