The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is asking the High Court to temporarily halt judicial review proceedings brought by businessman and leader of the We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed, as the agency pursues criminal charges against him over the controversial importation of a high-end Lamborghini Roadster SVJ.
The GRA’s legal team has petitioned Justice Gino Persaud to stay the civil matter, warning that allowing both the criminal and civil proceedings to run concurrently could risk “inconsistent findings” between the two courts and potentially damage public confidence in the administration of justice.
At the center of the dispute is a luxury vehicle Mohamed imported in December 2020. The GRA alleges that he made a false declaration regarding the value of the car, causing the agency to lose hundreds of millions in taxes. Mohamed was formally charged on May 15, 2025, with submitting a false declaration and knowingly participating in tax fraud, both violations under the Customs Act.
The businessman insists he purchased the Lamborghini for US$75,000 and paid approximately GY$49 million in duties, a sum he maintains was both lawful and transparent. In his judicial review challenge, he is contesting the legality and fairness of the GRA’s March 2025 decision to impose GY$420 million in back taxes and seize three of his vehicles.
Mohamed’s legal team argues that the evidence required for the judicial review is materially different from what is needed in the criminal trial and claims the GRA’s attempt to stall the civil proceedings is “an abuse of process.” He contends that the criminal charges were filed belatedly to delay Justice Persaud’s impending ruling on the judicial review, which is scheduled for September 15.
The GRA’s position is partly based on financial documents from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and the U.S. Department of Justice, which reportedly indicate that Mohamed transferred a total of US$695,000 to a company named International Speed Consulting. The GRA says US$75,300 of that amount was earmarked specifically for the Lamborghini, but their calculations suggest a much higher value was involved, warranting significantly higher duties.
In an earlier hearing, Justice Persaud declined to admit the financial records from GBTI and the U.S. DOJ as evidence, a decision the GRA has since appealed. That appeal, filed on June 5, is still pending.
Meanwhile, Mohamed has earlier alleged that President Irfaan Ali personally assisted in the importation and clearance of his Lamborghini luxury vehicle. Speaking to reporters, he claimed that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo advised him to approach President Ali directly about the matter.
The businessman turned politician, subsequently shared WhatsApp messages—purportedly between himself and the President—as evidence of Ali’s involvement. He further alleged that President Ali intervened after the Guyana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) Commissioner-General initially resisted registering the vehicle.
In an interview with News Source, Mohamed stated explicitly that President Ali “assisted with the clearance of the Lamborghini” and insisted he has proof to support his claim.
As the legal wrangling continues, the battle between Mohamed and the tax authority remains a high-profile case with implications not just for the parties involved, but for the public’s trust in the impartiality of the legal and tax enforcement systems.
