The Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday said that Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers is being investigated for the offence of “conspiracy to defraud” after she surrendered to the police in the company of her lawyers on Tuesday.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum last evening told Stabroek News that Myers remained in police custody as the investigation into the alleged attempt to manipulate the results of the March 2nd elections continues.
In a statement issued yesterday morning, Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor said that Myers was arrested on Tuesday after she turned herself into the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, accompanied by her attorneys who included Nigel Hughes.
According to the police, Myers’ arrest came more than one month after several efforts made by investigators to locate her proved futile. “This was following a period of time of over a month, during which several efforts were made by the Police to contact Ms. Myers even at her place of work in relation to the post-March 2, 2020 elections incidents,” the police said.
The police added that a wanted bulletin was prepared to be issued by the GPF for Myers, but before it was sent out she surrendered
After being arrested, the police said Myers was told of the offence and she exercised her right to remain silent. “Further, Ms. Myers was promptly arrested for the offence of `conspiracy to defraud’ and she was told of the allegation at the said time. She then exercised her right to remain silent,” the statement added.
Hughes had previously told Stabroek News that during a video interview with investigators at the CID headquarters on Tuesday, Myers exercised her right to silence. He noted that it was after this development that she was informed that she would be arrested for alleged obstruction of justice.
He had said that despite the police having all the necessary information to institute charges for obstruction of justice there was no indication of such action and his client was refused bail when requested.
According to Hughes, his client was not aware that the police were searching for her. He said after seeing a news item in Tuesday’s edition of the Stabroek News, she contacted her lawyers and they subsequently made contact with the police.
The police yesterday however disputed this and said that contrary to statements attributed to Hughes, Myers was not arrested and detained because she exercised her right to remain silent. The police said Myers was arrested for the offence of “conspiracy to defraud” and she was told of the allegation at the said time. She then exercised her right to remain silent.
In another statement yesterday afternoon, Hughes maintained his stance previously taken in relation to the matter.
Station diary
He invited the police to release the contents of the station diary at the CID HQ, which he said bore records that Myers was arrested at 12.30hrs on Tuesday for the offence of “perverting the court of justice”.
More than a month ago, the police announced that they had launched an investigation into the March elections and the events that occurred during the ensuing five months up to when President Irfaan Ali was declared the winner on August 2nd.
Since then, a number of individuals including APNU+AFC agent Volda Lawrence and several GECOM officials have faced charges stemming from their alleged involvement in the manipulation of the elections results.
Among the most recent to be arrested as part of the investigation were Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and APNU+AFC official Carol Joseph.
Lowenfield was taken into custody two Saturdays ago while Joseph was detained days after. They were both subsequently placed on station bail and are required to report to the police on specific dates as the investigation continues.
In a press release, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor confirmed that Lowenfield had been arrested and taken to the CID Headquarters, at Eve Leary.
While there, Andries-Junor said, several allegations were levelled against Lowenfield in the presence of his attorney. Throughout the process, he remained silent. “After being told of the allegations, Mr. Lowenfield exercised his right to remain silent,” the statement said. “There-after, a confrontation was held between him and a witness and once again Mr. Lowenfield opted to remain silent,” it added.
Upon completion of the process, the police said Lowenfield was released on station bail on the condition that he reports to the CID headquarters as ordered.
Lowenfield is already facing fraud and misconduct charges which were filed by private citizens Desmond Morian and Daniel Josh Kanhai over the handling of the results from the March 2nd polls. The DPP’s Chambers has since taken over prosecution.
District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo was one of the first individuals who was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation and he has since been faced with multiple charges, for which he is out on bail.
Sheffern February, a clerk employed with GECOM, was also granted bail after she 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. The charges are identical but pertain to the regional and general elections.
Enrique Livan, a GECOM Information Technology officer, 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, too, was granted bail.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had previously told Stabroek News that investigators are working towards wrapping up the probe this week.
Once this is completed, he said, the file will be sent to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice on criminal charges to be instituted against those individuals who may be held criminally liable for their actions.
