Elections Fraud Trial delayed again as Magistrate unwell

The trial into the 2020 General and Regional elections was once again delayed on Monday after the presiding magistrate, Leron Daly fell sick.

The previous hearing was held last Wednesday. After that hearing, the trial was adjourned to Monday morning.

On Monday morning, however, the defendants were not at the Court. Members of the media were told that Magistrate Daly would not be present.

The News Room was subsequently told that Magistrate Daly is unwell. And the case has been adjourned to Wednesday, August 7 at 09:30 hrs.

The long-delayed trial finally commenced on July 29, 2024- years since the controversial March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

In fact, the last hearing came to an abrupt adjournment after issues primarily focused on the admissibility of evidence, the accuracy of court records and persons who are not defendants in the case, were raised.

A series of witnesses are expected to testify in the trial. To date, only one witness, the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag has concluded her testimony.

A section of Parag’s statement was struck from being admitted into evidence in the case after concerns were raised about her mentioning the names of an individual who is not a defendant in the case.

This happened after much delays, which saw lawyers in a banter before a decision was taken by the Magistrate to exclude this section of information.

King’s Counsel Dharshan Ramdhani, who is leading evidence in the case, had raised repeated concerns with the Court that if this situation continues, then majority of the evidence in the trial would be affected.

Nine persons are before the court in relation to electoral fraud.

They are: former APNU+AFC government minister Volda Lawrence; former GECOM Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield; former GECOM Returning Officer for District Four Clairmont Mingo; former GECOM Deputy Chief Election Officer Roxanne Myers; APNU+AFC’s Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith Joseph; and former GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Liven, Michelle Miller and Denise Babb-Cummings.

They face nine conspiracy charges which are said to have been committed between Elections day (March 2, 2020) and to August 2, 2020.

It is alleged that the defendants conspired during the 2020 General and Regional elections to defraud the electors of Guyana by declaring a false account of votes cast.

The trial is expected to run for a period of six weeks but now with the constant delays it is likely to run longer.