–describes the businessman as an honourable, ethical person
RETIRED acting assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and global security expert of the BGR Group, Tom Locke, has defended the reputation of Guyana’s most renowned businessman and gold dealer, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed.
Locke, who was the lead investigator in the September 9, 2011 (911) attack on the World Trade Center, said that he has had 32 years of experience in the FBI and dealing with terrorists and people who commit unlawful acts.
According to him, someone from the Guyana Embassy in Washington, DC, asked the BGR team to investigate Mohamed, who was interested in reapplying for his US visa, but he has had a number of allegations made against him, even though none has proven to be true.
Locke, during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said that the individual asked if he would conduct an independent investigation on Mohamed in regard to the allegations and report his findings.
The retired FBI agent said: “I met Mr. Mohamed almost a year ago, and I told him, look, I am going to do this investigation, and the chips will have to fall where they may. If I find something that is not exactly flattering to you, I am going to have to talk about it, and he willingly agreed. I am happy to say that, after my investigation, it has now been concluded that those allegations are completely invalid.
“I can say that this investigation was primarily carried out in order to erase some of the concerns that the US State Department had and to also knock down some fences that had appeared around Mr. Mohamed as well.”
The former FBI agent related that despite Mohamed’s achievements, he and his family have been prevented from obtaining a US visa because of false accusations that were made against him.
Some of the accusations range from “buying gold illegally from Venezuela, gunrunning, and drug dealing to the completely outrageous, terrorist financing, and murder.”
Locke said that while he was conducting the investigation, “Apart from finding out that all the accusations were false, I also found out that Mr. Mohamed is a very honourable and ethical businessman who came from humble beginnings and gives back to people and students many times unknowing to others.
“I believe that Guyana should be very proud of him for his philanthropy, business ethic, and the charitable work that he is doing for the country. He should be recognised for what he is doing for Guyanese and not for the false allegations that are out there about him.”
In the copy of the document that shows what was uncovered by Locke, it is clearly stated that “Mr. Mohamed has not been investigated in connection with any crime, nor has he been arrested or charged with a violation of any sort.”
The most surprising finding about Mohamed, according to Locke, was: “To have a man who is so ethical that the only thing that can get you crossed ways with him is if you do something that is unethical, that he doesn’t agree with; it’s almost as if he divorces himself from such individuals, and he is very much a believer in his faith and standard business practices.”
