AGtowriteDPPoverdelayinoutcomeofelectionfraudcases

Vowing not to allow the case where several officials of the Guyana Elections Commission GECOM are chargedwithelectionsfraud to fall away, Attorney General(AG),AnilNandlall

SCsaysthathewillofficially requestastatusupdateonthe cases from the Director of PublicProsecutions(DPP).

Nandlall told viewers on his Facebook commentary programme “Issues in the

News,”lastTuesday,thathe willbewritingtheDPPfora statusupdate.

According to Nandlall therehavebeenanumberof queries from the public about the delay in the outcome of the matters which has been before the Magistrates’ Court for two years.

“Members of the public mustunderstandthatcharges are instituted by the Police upon advice from the DPP and the Police legal advisor andprosecutedbythosetwo agencies.Thegovernmentis insulated from that process but the government will not sit idly by and allow the chargestojustfallaway.”

He noted too that the governmentisequallyandas an important stakeholder interested in the outcome of thesecharges.

“So,thegovernmentwill requestfromtheDPPsoona status update on these charges,”

He said the government wants to know exactly why these cases have not progressed with the alacrity and seriousness with which hebelievestheyshould.

“You are entitled to that informationanditwillcome from the DPP because the DPP is responsible for the prosecution of these offences. When we receive that information, we will makeitpublic,”theAttorney Generalpromised.

TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) had announced in August 2020, that they will b e c o n d u c t i n g a c o m p r e h e n s i v e investigation into the criminal conduct of the former GECOM officials and others, in relation to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and the eventsthatfollowed.During the probe, several GECOM officials were arrested and placed before the court to faceelectoralfraudcharges.

In fact, over 30 fraudrelatedchargeswerebrought against former GECOM CEO, Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers, Clairmont Mingo, Opposition members, Volda Lawrence, and SmithJoseph and also several GECOMemployees.

Some of the charges the defendants face are misconduct in public office, conspiracy to commit fraud, forging a document and forgery – all in relation to theirattempttoallegedlyrig theMarch2020Generaland Regional Elections Last month, the charges were amended and the matters have since been adjourned againtoMarch13,2023.