–DPP takes over private criminal charges against duo for electoral fraud

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has launched a “comprehensive” investigation against the Chief Election Officer and the Returning Officer for Region Four after it received formal reports of alleged criminal misconduct by the duo.

Police in a statement noted that formal reports allege criminal conduct by Mr. Keith Lowenfield and Mr. Clairmont Mingo and others in relation to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and events subsequent thereto.

As a result, Police Headquarters noted that legal advice was obtained from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), and the GPF was advised to launch a comprehensive investigation into these allegations in accordance with its mandate.

“The DPP has further indicated that in the exercise of powers vested in her, under Article 187 of the Constitution, she will take over the private criminal charges currently pending in the Magistrate’s Court in relation to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and its aftermath,” police stated.

The country’s Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield had presented results for the March 02 elections, with the exact inflated figures for the APNU/AFC Coalition as declared by District Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, which was widely protested as being fraudulent.

This led to a national vote recount, which clearly established that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was the winner of the elections.

The elections’ results were finally announced on August 2, after a five-month delay.
Meanwhile, the charges against Lowenfield were filed on June 30 by Desmond Morian and Daniel Josh Kanhai relating to fraud, misconduct in office, and breach of the public’s trust by providing results of the March 2, 2020 elections which he knows to be false.

Lowenfield first appeared in court on July 24, 2020 where he was granted bail in the sum of $450,000 bail; or $150,000 bail on each charge.
In charges filed against the CEO, it is alleged that between March 5, 2020, and June 23, 2020, Lowenfield conspired with person (s) unknown to commit a common- law fraud.
The court document stated: “The accused, between March 5, 2020 and June 29, 2020 while performing his duty as the chief elections officer of the Guyana Elections Commission, without lawful excuse or justification, willfully misconducted himself at Georgetown… a place within the Georgetown Magisterial District by ascertaining results of the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections for Guyana, knowing the said results to be false, the said willful misconduct amounting to a breach of the public’s trust in the Office of the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission.”
The matter is set to be heard on August 24, 2020.