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.
