GUYANA-Case against WIN leader to be heard before another magistrate.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, on Wednesday, transferred the multi-million dollar tax case against billionaire businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, to another court. After indicating “I believe I have quite a lot on my plate already…”

Mohamed, who is expected to be sworn in as the Opposition Leader in the new Parliament after his We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party won the second most seats after the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the September 1 general and regional elections, has maintained his innocence against the charges.

The charges stem from what the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) says are fraudulent declarations and tax evasion in relation to the purchase and importation of a luxury vehicle in 2020.

Mohamed is accused of making false declarations to the GRA contrary to Section 217 of the Customs Act. The prosecution alleges that he falsely declared the wrong value of a luxury vehicle imported back in 2020. The cost of the luxury vehicle was reportedly stated as US$75,300, instead of the alleged purchase price of US$695,000.

Additionally, he is accused of fraudulent evasion contrary to the Customs Act. According to the particulars of that offence, Mohamed allegedly declared the cost of the luxury car to be US$75,300, instead of the actual price, thereby evading more than GUY$380 million (One Guyana dollar equals 0.004 cents) in local taxes.

“I certainly would not be the magistrate doing this trial. I believe I have quite a lot on my plate already, so I propose to transfer the matter to another Magistrate,” McGusty said, indicating that the matter will now be heard before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in Court 3.

It will come up for report in Court 3 on Friday, October 3, where the presiding magistrate is expected to set a date for a Case Management Conference (CMC).

GRA attorney, Sanjeev Datadin, in making a case for an early date, said the prosecution wants the case to proceed, even as the defence attorney, Siand Dhurjon, sought a later date.

“Your worship, we have been on this all the time. The prosecution wants to get on. All we are asking for is not a very long time, where we are constantly reporting. So, at this stage, any date next week, any date at any time next week, that the Court is mindful to send us so that we can report would be agreeable”, Datadin told the Court.