GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Despite facing a U.S. indictment on multiple corruption charges, billionaire businessman Azruddin Mohamed is set to assume his role as Guyana’s legislative opposition leader, legal experts confirm. The 38-year-old, part of a prominent family dynasty with vast interests in gold trading, foreign currency, and oil, secured significant political influence after his newly-formed party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), won 16 of 65 parliamentary seats in September’s elections. However, a grand jury in Florida’s Southern District recently unsealed documents accusing Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, of money laundering, bribery, tax evasion, and wire and mail fraud, among other charges. The case highlights the pervasive corruption in Guyana’s oil-rich government. Despite the allegations, Sherlock Isaacs, Clerk of the Guyanese parliament, stated that Mohamed can legally serve in Parliament unless convicted. Mark Kirton, former Director of the Institute of International Relations at the University of the West Indies, noted that the legal process could be lengthy, allowing Mohamed to retain his position until the case concludes. In his first public remarks since the indictment, Mohamed dismissed the charges as politically motivated. The U.S. Treasury Department previously sanctioned Mohamed and his family for allegedly smuggling gold and evading taxes, citing bribery schemes involving Guyanese officials. The indictment also accuses the Mohameds of reusing official revenue-sealed boxes to ship gold fraudulently. While extradition to the U.S. remains a possibility, Mohamed’s political trajectory appears undeterred for now.
US corruption indictment of billionaire politician won’t block him from Guyana’s parliament
