Lack of progress with electoral fraud cases is disappointing

Lack of progress with electoral fraud cases is disappointing – Nandlall

Aug 06, 2023 News

Kaieteur News – Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, S.C., has expressed his dissatisfaction with the progress of these electoral fraud cases in the Magistrates’ Courts.

“The progress with those cases has been unsatisfactory, to say the least, and I can relate to [the public’s] frustration in respect to the progress or lack of progress being made with these cases,” Nandlall said during his weekly issues in the news programme.

He continued, “These are cases of national importance. They touch and concern issues of public importance, vital and crucial to law and order in this country, and to the democratic architecture of our nation. And you the people were following these events and you played a significant role in ensuring that the rule of law was maintained, that the will of the people prevail and that democracy was preserved and protected. And you are entitled, therefore, to an update because all of you – many of you called for these charges.”

“You were outraged, and rightfully so, by what was done. And the charges, to the credit of the police, were instituted and placed before the magistracy. And that is where they’ve been. We’re now celebrating three years and they have not advanced in the manner that they should have,” Nandlall said

The Attorney General had written the Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, for an update on these electoral fraud cases after expressing his concerns over the long delays.

He had also requested the special prosecutor, who is currently out of the country, to update the public on these cases upon his return. Ramdhani, Q.C., has also been instructed to compile a progress report to be submitted to the DPP.

Nandlall had previously said that there have been a number of 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 must understand that charges are instituted by the Police upon advice from the DPP and the Police legal advisor and prosecuted by those two agencies. The government is insulated from that process but the government will not sit idly by and allow the charges to just fall away.”

He noted too that the government is equally and as an important stakeholder interested in the outcome of these charges.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) had announced in August 2020, that they will be conducting a comprehensive 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 events that followed. During the probe, several GECOM officials were arrested and placed before the court to face electoral fraud charges.

In fact, over 30 fraud-related charges were brought against former GECOM CEO, Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers, Clairmont Mingo, Opposition members, Volda Lawrence, and Smith-Joseph and also several GECOM employees.

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 their attempt to allegedly rig the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. Last month, the charges were amended and the matters have since been adjourned again to March 13, 2023.

GECOM CEO, Keith Lowenfield, n. Ramdhani, news programme, Q.C., the Magistrates’ Courts

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Lack of progress with electoral fraud cases is disappointing – Nandlall

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