The committal hearing into the extradition of U.S-indicted businessmen Nazar Mohamed and his son Azruddin Mohamed resumed Thursday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, who ruled within minutes that her earlier decision refusing additional disclosure in the case will stand.

The hearing continued at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after a period of adjournment, with Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sharon Roopchand-Edwards returning to the witness stand for further cross-examination by defence attorney Siand Dhurjon.

At the start of the proceedings, Dhurjon asked the court to reconsider its earlier ruling denying the defence access to certain documents, arguing that the request was now supported by what he described as official United States State Department materials in the defence’s possession.

The attorney submitted that the documents suggested the existence of a contract between the Government of Guyana and a U.S. lobbying firm and sought disclosure of that agreement while Roopchand-Edwards remained under cross-examination.

However, prosecutors Glenn Hanoman and McKenzie objected, arguing that the request was irrelevant to the issues before the court and that the prosecution had already fulfilled its disclosure obligations. They contended that the defence was attempting a “fishing expedition” for evidence and had not established how the material related to the extradition proceedings.

After hearing submissions from both sides, Magistrate Latchman said the court would maintain its earlier position and declined the defence’s application for additional disclosure, directing that the cross-examination proceed.

The proceedings form part of the extradition inquiry into the Mohameds, who are the subject of a request from the United States in connection with multiple alleged financial offences, including wire fraud, money laundering and other charges.