Election fraud trial adjourned after defence objects to Aneal Giddings testifying virtually

The ongoing trial into the 2020 General and Regional elections was adjourned on Monday after defence attorney Nigel Hughes objected to former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Aneal Giddings giving evidence virtually.

When the matter was called before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Giddings was not present in court but had joined the proceedings via Zoom.

Hughes raised an objection to the witness testifying remotely, indicating that he preferred for Giddings to appear in person before the court.

In response, the magistrate asked prosecutor Madana Rampersaud to explain why the witness was not physically present. Rampersaud told the court that Giddings was out of the jurisdiction. However, when questioned further, the prosecutor said he did not know how long Giddings would remain overseas and declined to disclose the reason for his absence.

The court subsequently took a short adjournment to allow the prosecution to contact Giddings and determine when he could be available to testify in person.

Upon resumption, the court was informed that Giddings would not be able to return for at least another week and would indicate at a later date when he could attend court.

With no other witnesses available to continue the proceedings, the magistrate adjourned the matter. The trial is expected to resume on Wednesday, June 24.

Last week, the trial heard testimony from High Court Registrar Suanna Lovell and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer Nigel Stephens, while a number of electoral documents, including Statements of Poll (SOPs), Statements of Recount (SORs), and tally sheets, were tendered into evidence.

Lovell had testified that the election documents were transferred from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to the High Court following an order from then acting Chief Justice Roxane George to ensure their safekeeping. The documents were escorted to the High Court in the presence of GECOM Chairperson Claudette Singh and former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield.

Nine persons are currently before the court charged with conspiring to manipulate the 2020 election results in favour of the APNU+AFC coalition in an alleged attempt to deny victory to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Among those charged are former government minister Volda Lawrence, former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, and former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers.

The controversy surrounding the March 2020 elections delayed the declaration of results for five months before PPP/C presidential candidate Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President on August 2, 2020.