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– matter further adjourned
The chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions on Monday formally indicated to the court that it will take over prosecution of the private criminal charges against Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield.
Lowenfield appeared in court Monday morning for the continuation of the case filed by political activists for the PPP/C and one of the small parties. His lawyer, Senior Counsel, Neil Boston told reporters following the hearing that the matter was adjourned and that a representative of the DPP chambers indicated to the magistrate that the chamber will take over prosecution of the case. Boston said his client has been complying with the courts.
In a media release the Guyana Police Force said that as of Friday last formal reports were received which alleged criminal conduct by Mr. Lowenfield, Clairmont Mingo and others in relation to the March, 2nd, 2020, General and Regional Elections and events subsequent thereto. “As a result, legal advice was obtained from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Guyana Police Force was advised to launch a comprehensive investigation into these allegations in accordance with its mandate,” the release stated. 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 2nd, 2020, General and Regional Elections and its aftermath.
When Lowenfield had first appeared in court he was granted $450,000 bail. A PPP/C activist and others filed the criminal charges against the CEO for alleged misconduct in public office. The allegations by the PPP/C activist, Desmond Morian are that Lowenfield, while performing his duties as CEO of GECOM, ascertained the results of the March 2 elections “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 [GECOM].”
The PPP/C was furious over a report Lowenfield had submitted, which the CEO said was based on valid votes cast at the March2, 2020 elections. The report had shown the APNU+AFC coalition winning the elections by 33 seats to 31 for the PPP/C and one for the joinder party.
Two weeks ago President Irfaan Ali announced that an inquiry into the 2020 General and Regional Election, which was marred by allegations of fraud and thousands of irregularities will be initiated shortly. In his inauguration as the 9th Executive President of Guyana at the National Cultural Centre, President Ali said Guyanese painfully experienced grave trauma and anguish over the last five months as a result of attempts to rig the elections held on March 2. “…A review of events – related to the electoral process over the last five months – will begin shortly in order to determine, forensically, exactly what transpired, and to hold accountable any person who sought to pervert and corrupt the system,” the President announced.
