On December 12, Special Prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani, KC, is set to deliver an update to Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The update pertains to guidance from Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings regarding the establishment of a specialised court designated for the 2020 electoral fraud cases.
During a prior hearing, Special Prosecutor Ramdhani presented his argument for consolidating all election fraud charges into a single comprehensive case, underlining the shared origin of evidence. However, Senior Magistrate Daly, grappling with an already substantial caseload, expressed concerns about the potential strain such a move could have on the court. In response to this challenge, the prosecutor offered to engage in correspondence with the Chancellor, to seek her guidance on the appointment of a dedicated magistrate to oversee the cases.
On Wednesday, Ramdhani was anticipated to present the court with the Chancellor’s guidance. However, he conveyed to the court that the Chancellor’s communication had been dispatched, and the prosecution now awaits a response. To this end, he emphasized the state’s full preparedness to proceed with the case, whichever direction it may take.
In the midst of these legal deliberations, defense attorney Nigel Hughes raised concerns and questioned the Chancellor’s jurisdiction to intervene at this stage.
This legal saga stems from an investigation into the March 2020 General and Regional Elections and the subsequent events that unfolded. Numerous individuals, including former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials are facing over 20 electoral fraud-related charges, stemming from their alleged involvement in manipulating the electoral process. Among those charged are former GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers, Clairmont Mingo, as well as Opposition members Volda Lawrence and Carol Smith-Joseph. Additionally, GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Bobb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller are also facing electoral fraud charges.
