As the police probe into the alleged fraud surrounding the March 2nd elections continues, Duarte Hetsberger, the Personal Assistant to Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield remains in custody.
Speaking to Stabroek News last evening, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that the investigation is ongoing.
Hetsberger’s 72-hours maximum detention period will expire today. Thereafter, the police will have to approach the High Court for additional time to further detain him. If not, they will have to charge or release him.
Hetsberger is the only person in custody in relation to the investigation at the moment.
Hetsberger, 39, was detained just after midday on Tuesday. A search was later carried out at his residence in his presence and several electronic devices belonging to family members were seized.
Hetsberger, who is a member of the Guyana Defence Force has been seconded to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for several years. He served as Returning Officer for Georgetown during the 2016 and 2018 Local Government Elections.
Two other individuals: Michelle Miller and Denise Bobb Cummings, were also detained for questioning during the investigation but they have since been released on station bail.
Blanhum had previously noted that the duo are still actively involved in the investigation since bail was granted on the condition that they report to ranks at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as requested.
The three were among six persons who were arrested by the police for questioning in relation to the investigation.
Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo was also detained last week. He was released on 600,000 bail on Monday after being charged with four counts of misconduct in public office.
Sheffern February, a clerk employed with GECOM was also granted bail in the sum of $300,000. February was charged with two counts of attempting to defraud the people of Guyana.
Those charges stated that while in the position of a clerk she read incorrect numbers from the statements of poll during the March 2020 election. The charges are identical but pertain to the regional and general elections. February was also not required to plead. She is expected to make her next appearance on September 25th, 2020.
Enrique Livan, an Information Technology officer attached to GECOM, was also brought before the court on a charge of manipulating the numbers of the statements of poll that were recorded in the system so that they reflected fraudulent numbers for District Four. He was granted bail in the sum of $150,000 on the single charge.
