Election Fraud Case to Proceed Summarily, Trial Begins February 2025

Acting Chief Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty has ruled that the high-profile election fraud case linked
to Guyana’s controversial 2020 general elections will be tried summarily.

The decision, delivered on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, prioritises
expediency and public interest to avoid further delays.

Magistrate McGusty emphasised that the protracted nature of the proceedings and the
widespread public attention warranted a streamlined approach.

“It is the opinion of this court that it is within the public interest for this matter to be proceeded
with summarily, rather than indictably, given the time it is before the court. It is in the public’s
interest, and in the interest of the defendants, to not have this matter hanging over their heads
for an extended period in the future,” Magistrate Mc Gusty held.

Opting for a summary trial bypasses the indictable process, which would involve a preliminary
inquiry or paper committal to assess whether sufficient evidence exists to advance the case to
the High Court.

Instead, the magistrate will directly oversee the trial, significantly expediting the judicial
process.

The defence team, led by Attorney Nigel Hughes, had presented written arguments advocating
for the charges to proceed indictably.

However, lead prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani, KC, argued in favour of a summary trial, citing
the need for urgency.

Magistrate Mc Gusty ultimately sided with the prosecution, announcing that the trial will
commence on Monday, February 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM, with hearings scheduled to continue on
February 18 and 19, 2025, and additional dates in March 2025.

Earlier this month, Magistrate McGusty granted a defence request to restart the trial, vacating
all prior rulings made by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Magistrate Daly had overseen the trial which had initially commenced on July 29, 2024, until
her extended medical leave began in August 2024, necessitating the reassignment to a new
magistrate.

The case centers on allegations of a conspiracy to manipulate the results of the 2020 elections.

Former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield initially declared victory for the
APNU+AFC coalition, reporting 171,825 votes for the coalition against 166,343 for the PPP/C.

However, a recount supervised by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and a high-level
CARICOM delegation showed the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes to the coalition’s 217,920.

The recount exposed irregularities, particularly in Region Four, the largest voting district,
leading to fraud charges against several high-profile individuals.

Those charged include former Health Minister Volda Lawrence, former District Four Returning
Officer Clairmont Mingo, PNC/R activist Carol Smith-Joseph, former CEO Keith Lowenfield,
former Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, and GECOM employees Enrique Livan, Sheffern February,
Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller.

The defendants face 19 conspiracy charges and have denied all allegations. They are currently
out on cash bail. If convicted, they could face up to three years in prison per charge.

The prosecution intends to call approximately 72 witnesses, including Minister of Local
Government and Regional Development Sonia Parag and head of the Diaspora Unit within the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Rosalinda Rasul, to substantiate the
charges,

In August 2021, GECOM dismissed Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo following the emergence of
serious fraud allegations.

The case has drawn widespread attention due to the allegations of
fraud surrounding the election results.