Guyana Special Branch Chief Admits Destroying Records Linked to Mohameds’ Arrest

# What happened Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, who leads the Guyana Police Force's Special Branch intelligence unit, told a court he destroyed records relating to the October 31, 2025 arrest of Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed. He said the documents were shredded and burned at Special Branch headquarters in January 2026.

# What Narine said in court Narine denied that the destroyed documents were the full operational record, but he confirmed using a shredding machine and burning files. When defense counsel Siand Dhurjon suggested those documents were the actual operational record of the arrest day, Narine disagreed.

On why he destroyed the material, Narine said he destroys anything he considers secret. He initially referenced the Official Secrets Act as his authority, then said he would need legal advice to clarify whether he meant a law or an internal police rule. Prosecutor McKenzie said he was unsure what Narine meant, and Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman pointed out that Narine could not be "a signatory to a law."

# The unlogged US Marshal conversation Narine also testified he allowed US Marshal Sandy Rao to speak privately with the Mohameds. He characterized the exchange as conducted out of his hearing and confirmed the conversation was never recorded in the Brickdam Police Station diary. Narine said he does not know the content of that private conversation.

# Context of the extradition case Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed are wanted in the United States on charges filed in Florida: wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. The testimony about destroyed records and an unlogged federal-agent conversation surfaced during their extradition hearing. Azruddin Mohamed is identified in coverage as founder of the WIN party and the country's opposition leader.

# Courtroom dynamics and legal questions Defense counsel suggested the destroyed documents were operational records central to reconstructing the arrest. Narine disputed that characterization. His claim that he was authorized to destroy documents because he personally considered them secret raised questions in court about whether any standing order or written policy authorized such action. Narine said he would need legal advice to answer whether he was citing a statutory or internal-authority basis for destruction.

# Why the details matter Records of arrest operations and entries in police station diaries can be material to extradition proceedings, where the sequence of events, who spoke to whom, and whether the proper procedures were followed can affect admissibility and the defense's ability to challenge custody and processes. The unlogged private conversation with a US Marshal adds a factual gap the court noted: Narine said he did not know what was discussed.

# Immediate implications The testimony revealed two discrete issues for the extradition hearing: destruction of contemporaneous records and the existence of an unrecorded federal-agent meeting with the suspects. Both issues were raised and probed in open court, with prosecutors and the Chief Magistrate pressing for clarification of Narine's authority and what was actually destroyed.

# What remains open