Elections fraud trial delayed further as Magistrate remains ill

The trial into the March 2020 General and Regional elections was on Tuesday once again delayed as the presiding Magistrate Leron Delay remains ill.

This comes more than a month after the last hearing in the matter where it was reported that Magistrate Daly is on sick leave and the matter was deferred until mid-September.

However, when the case was called on Tuesday morning for report, acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty informed the court that Magistrate Daly is still ill.

So the matter was adjourned to October 31.

The acting Chief Magistrate however related that if Magistrate Daly is still ill on that date, a decision will have to be made on the way forward in the matter.

That decision, she said will include exploring whether the matter will have to be transferred to another magistrate for continuation.

The acting chief magistrate, however, noted that this option will be explored when that time comes.

The defence attorneys which include attorney Eusi Anderson and Darren wade were present in court.

Meanwhile the prosecution, which is being led by king counsel Dharshan Ramdhani joined via Zoom.

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

Since then, this trial has been faced with a series of delays.

Only two witnesses including  Minister of Local Government and Regional development, Sonia Parag testified.

Parag was the first witness in the trial. She detailed the ‘chaos and shouting’ which unfolded to prevent declaration of fake results.

Her testimony continued on the second day: The third hearing, which saw the second witness, Rosalina Rasul taking the stand, 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.

This resulted in a section of Parag’s statement being stuck 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.

A series of witnesses are expected to testify in the trial which was initially run for a period of six weeks.

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.