Embattled Mingo, three assistants remain in Police custody

The Guyana Police Force is continuing its investigations into alleged fraud surrounding the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections as the embattled Returning Officer of Region Four 68-year-old Clairmont Mingo and three of his assistants remain in Police custody.

The Police Force in a statement Tuesday night named Mingo and his Registration Officer 42-year-old Mikhaila Duncan as the two suspects but Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed to the News Room on Wednesday that two more employees of GECOM who worked with Mingo on Elections Day were also arrested.

One of Mingo’s attorneys Senior Counsel Roysdale Force told reporters on Tuesday night outside the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) that Mingo’s legal rights were abused by the Police by denying him legal representation during questioning.

“He was provided with no information about why he was removed from his home. He was afforded no explanation. He had to insist to get some idea as to why he is here. I don’t believe that was put to him in any clear way,” Forde said.

Mingo was arrested at his Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara home on Tuesday in relation to the fraudulent elections declaration of March 5 which has his signature.

The Chief Justice Roxane George Wiltshire had thrown out the declaration, saying the tabulation was not done in accordance with the law.

A national vote recount found that the numbers were inflated in favour of the APNU+AFC Coalition while the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) emerged as the true winner. Mingo remains in the employ of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) but the News Room understands that he has not shown up at the office for months.