Guyana gets info on U.S. tax evasion allegations against Mohameds, Mae Thomas

Mar 28, 2025 News

—Nandlall says it’s time now for GRA, Police to act

Kaieteur News- Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C. disclosed on Thursday that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) believe they have gathered enough evidence to proceed with actions in relation to the United States’ sanctions imposed on Guyanese businessmen Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed, as well as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Mae Thomas.

Guyana gets info on U.S. tax evasion allegations against Mohameds, Mae Thomas

Guyanese businessmen Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed

During a sideline interview at State House, Nandlall stated that information has been exchanged between Guyana and U.S. law enforcement agencies, leading to local authorities concluding that they now have sufficient grounds to act.

“So, they have made that exchange and through that exchange, the law enforcement agencies in Guyana, along with the Guyana Revenue Authority, have expressed the opinion that they have sufficient volume of evidence, information, data, documents, whatever we should call it, to proceed to act upon it,” Nandlall said.

He outlined that the GRA is expected to act on allegations of tax evasion, while the police will handle other aspects of the case based on the information received. When asked when criminal charges could be expected, Nandlall clarified that the process was ongoing but had reached a significant stage. “I said that there has been a process ongoing for several months now, and we have made that public, and that process have thus far yielded a sufficient volume of information that the tax authorities feel- and the law enforcement agencies in Guyana feel- provide sufficient basis for them to begin their statutory processes,” he clarified.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Mae Thomas

In relation to PS Thomas who has been on leave since last year, Nandlall was asked whether similar actions could be taken against her, and in his response, the Attorney General expressed his confidence in the agencies to act objectively and based on evidence. “I cannot speak for the law enforcement agencies nor the Guyana Revenue Authority, but I have no doubt that their approach will be one that would be objective and would be evidence-driven. I have no reason to think otherwise,” he added.

This publication had reported that the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had sanctioned the Mohameds over allegations of tax evasion, corruption, and gold smuggling, while Thomas was accused of misusing her position to grant government contracts and other benefits to the businessmen. Since the sanctions, the Guyanese government has sought information from U.S. authorities and committed to taking appropriate action once enough evidence was available.

According to Nandlall, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has responded to Guyana’s requests for information, and the investigation remains ongoing. However, he could not provide a specific timeline for when charges might be filed. “They are going to act, they have formally communicated that to me or to the government, and I presume that they will act. They will be acting anytime now,” he assured.

Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, S.C

(Guyana gets info on U.S. tax evasion allegations against Mohameds, Mae Thomas)

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Azruddin, Mae Thomas, Mohameds, Nazar, sanctions

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