Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers was yesterday granted bail in the sum of $300,000 after she was arraigned at a city court on two counts of misconduct in public office.
Myers, who appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in George-town, was not required to plead to the indictable charges.
State Prosecutor Teriq Mohammed objected to bail based on the seriousness of the offence, while claiming that Myers attempted to undermine the country’s democracy.
He also objected to bail as he claimed that the police had been making attempts to contact Myers both at her place of employment and at her home but to no avail.
Her lawyers, Nigel Hughes and Ronald Daniels, however, rejected the claim.
Bail was eventually set for Myers at $150,000 on each of the two charges.
She is scheduled to make her next appearance on October 23rd, 2020, where the prosecutor will disclose the status of the investigation.
Meanwhile, Daniels told reporters that during an interview conducted with Myers by police officers no question was asked about her role or participation in the conduct of the election.
Daniels also explained that nothing was put to her to the effect that she conducted herself inappropriately during the conduct of the election.
Police had previously said Myers was arrested for the offence of `conspiracy to defraud.’
Myers was arrested on October 6th, after she turned herself into the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Head-quarters, accompanied by her attorneys.
In a statement, Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor had said that Myers’ arrest came more than one month after several efforts made by investigators to locate her proved futile.
The police added that a wanted bulletin was prepared to be issued by the GPF for Myers, but before it was sent out she surrendered.
Hughes had previously told Stabroek News that during a video interview with investigators at the CID headquarters on Tues-day, Myers exercised her right to silence. He noted that it was after this development that she was informed that she would be arrested for alleged obstruction of justice.
The police on Wednes-day however disputed this and said that contrary to statements attributed to Hughes, Myers was not arrested and detained because she exercised her right to remain silent. The police said Myers was arrested for the offence of “conspiracy to defraud” and she was told of the allegation at the said time. She then exercised her right to remain silent.
In another statement on Wednesday afternoon, Hughes maintained his stance previously taken in relation to the matter. He invited the police to release the contents of the station diary at the CID HQ, which he said bore records that Myers was arrested at 12.30hrs on Tuesday for the offence of “perverting the court of justice”.
Previously, the police announced that they had launched an investigation into the March elections and the events that occurred during the ensuing five months.
Since then, a number of individuals including APNU+AFC agent Volda Lawrence and several GECOM officials, including Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, Sheffern February, a clerk employed with GECOM and Enrique Livan, a GECOM Information Technology officer, have been charged.
