CITY Magistrate Annette Singh, on Wednesday, upheld a no-case submission and later dismissed the charge against two policewomen who were accused of intentionally deleting electronic data from a computer belonging to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Special Corporal, Jenneka Carmichael of Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice (WCB) and Constable Tatayana Smith of Third Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, were on trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Particulars of the charge alleged that between January 28, 2021 and February 4, 2021, at the Guyana Police Force Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, Carmichael and Smith intentionally, and without lawful excuse or justification, deleted electronic data from the GPF computer that was in the Administrative Office of the Felix Austin Police College Mess.

The women had pleaded not guilty to the charge and were each placed on $150,000 bail.

The state was represented by Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) prosecutor Tuanna Hardy. Smith was represented by attorney-at-law Bernard DaSilva, while Carmichael was represented by attorney, E. Stephen.

The attorneys, in making a no-case submission, had argued that the prosecution had failed to establish evidence to prove key elements of the charge.

Magistrate Singh upheld the no-case submission, and dismissed the charge against the women.

At the time the alleged offence was committed, they were both working in the administrative office of the Felix Austin Police College Mess.

SOCU conducted an investigation after receiving information that falsified accounts were stored in the computer at the administrative office of the Felix Austin Police College Mess.

However, before officers of the unit could have accessed the computer, all the “feeding account files” were deleted. Carmichael and Smith were said to be the only ranks who operated the computer.