Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Monday ruled that Chairman of the People’s National Con-gress Reform (PNCR) Volda Lawrence, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo and APNU+AFC activist Carol Joseph will be tried summarily in the Magistrate’s Court for the election fraud charges currently pending against them.
As a result of her ruling, the three pleaded not guilty to the charges and the proceedings against them were adjourned until June 11, 2021, for full disclosure of statements.
Attorney Nigel Hughes, who is representing the three accused, had argued for the charges against his clients to remain indict-able, which would have seen the court conduct a preliminary inquiry to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for them to stand trial in the High Court. They would not have had to offer pleas unless the matters reached the High Court.
Magistrate McLennan however, ruled against his submissions and, as a result, Mingo, Lawrence and Joseph pleaded not guilty to the charges. A date for the beginning of their trial will follow.
Lawrence and Mingo were charged with intent to defraud. It is alleged that they uttered a report alleging to be a true declaration of all votes cast in District Four for the March 2, 2020, general and regional elections, knowing that the report was false.
It is also alleged that Joseph and Mingo, who were also jointly charged, uttered a forged document alleging to be a true report of all votes cast in the March 2, 2020, general and regional elections, knowing that the report was false.
It is further alleged that Joseph conspired with Mingo and others to declare a fraudulent count of votes for District Four.
Previously, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly ordered a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) to be conducted to determine whether there is enough evidence for Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers to stand trial at the High Court. Hughes had made a submission for the charges to remain indict-able. Attorney Ganesh Hira had said that the DPP has since filed an appeal against the Magistrate’s decision.
Myers was subsequently placed on $300,000 bail in relation to the two charges.
Additionally, Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield also faces charges in relation to misconduct in public office, for which he was granted bail in the sum of $300,000.
Fraud charges were also brought against several GECOM workers — Michelle Miller, Denise Bob Cummings, Sheffern February and Enrique Livan — who are all on bail.
