Though the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has withdrawn all tax-related charges against US-indicted businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, the State will still be pursuing the recovery of the taxes owed.
This is according to Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo who, during his press conference on Thursday, explained that the withdrawal of the charges does not prevent the State from pursuing the matter in a civil court.
“You have to pay the taxes,” Jagdeo emphasised, noting that the civil remedy for the taxes owed is already being pursued.
“They got the demand notice for the $191 billion already…that’s calculated based on the penalties, that’s not going to stop,” he said.
This point was also expressed by Attorney General Anil Nandlall who noted in a Facebook post that, “…extradition apart, the State of Guyana retains its full plenitude of legal powers to secure all taxes due, owing and payable, and intends to do so, in accordance with law.”
The charges, initially filed by GRA Commissioner-General Godfrey Statia, had alleged that the duo significantly understated taxable income generated from gold exports over the period 2020 to 2024. According to the complaints, Nazar Mohamed was accused of underreporting approximately $29.12 billion, while Azruddin Mohamed allegedly failed to declare roughly $3.61 billion, bringing the combined total underreported amount to some $32 billion.
The withdrawal of the charges, the GRA explained, is to facilitate a US extradition request for the father and son.
The Mohameds have been indicted by a US grand jury for conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, money laundering, and gold smuggling.
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