A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentarian Sherod Duncan has called for an immediate international commission of inquiry into the October 12 shooting incident involving Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, alleging that newly circulated surveillance footage points to a coordinated attempt by elements of the State to harm the Opposition Leader.
In a social media post published on Sunday, Duncan accused the Government of using the Guyana Police Force to target political opponents, describing the footage as evidence of what he characterised as a “state-sponsored conspiracy” against Mohamed.
Duncan said the recording showed an unmarked police vehicle remaining in the area for approximately eight minutes, with what he described as a street lookout, before the confrontation unfolded outside the Kitty residence of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, head of the Police Force’s Special Branch.
“An administration that uses state machinery to stalk, corner, and attempt to eliminate its chief opponent has lost all moral and constitutional legitimacy to govern,” Duncan declared.
He called for an international investigation and demanded the release of Mohamed, his employees and the police officers connected to the matter.
The post comes amid renewed controversy surrounding the October 12 incident, following the circulation of additional surveillance footage. A report published by Kiskadee Watch on Sunday reported the footage appeared to show Narine standing beside a building with a firearm pointed towards the vehicle carrying Mohamed and his associates, and discharging several shots.
Mohamed’s lawyers have maintained that their client was neither armed nor fired a weapon, arguing that the recordings support his account of the confrontation. The footage and the competing interpretations of what it depicts have not been independently established through a publicly disclosed forensic examination.
Mohamed, his driver Eugene Thorne and videographer Mario Mohamed were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and attempting to pervert the course of justice. They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail. The case was adjourned to November 27 after prosecutors requested additional time to complete disclosure.
The controversy has also extended into a separate investigation into the alleged unauthorised release of police surveillance recordings. Mohamed and Police Constable Ryan Greene were charged under the Cybercrime Act over allegations surrounding the transfer of the footage and were remanded after bail was refused. Another constable, Ashton Chappelle, was subsequently charged in connection with the investigation.
Duncan’s demand for an international inquiry adds to calls for greater scrutiny of the police investigation and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The allegations of a government-directed conspiracy have not been established, and the criminal proceedings remain before the courts. However, the emergence of additional footage has intensified public interest in determining precisely what happened that night and whether the investigation has fully accounted for the available evidence.
