GEORGETOWN (Reuters) -Serving in Guyana’s parliament would not provide immunity to opposition leader and mining businessman Azruddin Mohamed, following an indictment by a Florida court, the country’s Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Thursday.
Azruddin and his father Nazar Mohamed, who have been under U.S. sanctions since last year, were indicted this month by the court for the Southern District of Florida on 11 charges including fraud, money laundering and bribery related to gold exports.
Azruddin Mohamed is positioned to be sworn in as Guyana’s opposition leader by November, after his political party won 16 parliamentary seats in Guyana’s general election last month.
Despite Azruddin’s political status, they both could be extradited to the U.S. once authorities formally make the request, Guyana’s attorney general said last week. If an extradition request is granted, the businessmen would have the right to challenge it in Guyanese court.
Azruddin Mohamed told local media last week he was assembling a legal team to challenge the U.S. charges.
(Reporting by Kemol King, writing by Marianna; Editing by Julia Symmes-Cobb)
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