Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine on Monday denied that President Dr Irfaan Ali or anyone acting on his behalf instructed him to place Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed under surveillance.
Narine, head of the Special Branch Unit, made the denial during sustained cross-examination by defence attorney Siand Dhurjon in the extradition proceedings against Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed.
Dhurjon repeatedly suggested that Narine had been directed by President Ali to monitor Azruddin Mohamed because of his political activities. Narine rejected the allegation, responding: “That is not true.”
Asked whether the alleged instruction began in 2024, Narine again said: “That’s not true.”
Narine acknowledged that Azruddin Mohamed had been monitored by the Special Branch Unit but denied that the surveillance was politically motivated or ordered by the President.
At one stage, Narine initially declined to answer a question about surveillance, citing the Official Secrets Act. However, the court subsequently compelled him to respond.
Asked who had instructed him to place Mohamed under surveillance, Narine said: “No one instructed me.”
When Dhurjon asked whether he had therefore decided to conduct the surveillance himself, Narine replied: “No. I had a reason to do it.” He also denied that anyone had recommended or suggested that Mohamed be monitored.
Dhurjon sought to establish whether Narine’s relationship with President Ali and his professional advancement under the PPP/C Government influenced his handling of the case.
Narine confirmed encountering President Ali at police functions several times a year and seeing him at the Queenstown Masjid, but denied frequently conversing with the President there.
Prosecutor Herbert McKenzie repeatedly objected to questions concerning the President and mosque, arguing that they were irrelevant to the extradition proceedings.
Several questions were ultimately disallowed by the court.
The defence also alleged that significant police resources had been deployed to monitor Azruddin Mohamed and his family during political activities in 2025, including more than 15 vehicles.
Narine said he was unaware of this and denied knowledge of three Toyota Allion vehicles allegedly used for surveillance.
However, Narine confirmed that both Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed were under Special Branch Unit surveillance on October 31, 2025—the day they were arrested in relation to a United States request for their extradition.
He said telephone inquiries were made to determine Azruddin’s whereabouts.
Narine’s cross-examination was deferred to Tuesday before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The Mohameds face extradition to the United States over allegations including fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs violations linked to an alleged US$50 million gold-export and tax-evasion scheme.
They have denied the allegations.
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