PNCR Chair, Volda Lawrence; APNU+AFC party agent, Carol Joseph; Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo; and two Election Day clerks, were yesterday taken before the courts and charged with a number of offences including conspiracy to defraud and forgery.
The charges were read to them by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Lawrence and Mingo faced a joint charge which alleged that the two on March 5th at Georgetown, with intent to defraud the public uttered a certain forged document that is to say, a report purporting to be a true declaration of all votes cast in District Four for the March 2nd general and regional elections knowing said report to be forged.
The two were placed on $30,000 bail for this charge, however, Mingo faced another joint charge with Carol Joseph. That joint charge alleged that the two on March 13th uttered a forged document purporting to be a true report of all votes cast in the March 2nd general and regional elections while knowing that the report was forged.
Joseph herself faced two charges which stated that she, on March 13th at High and Hadfield streets, conspired with Mingo and others to declare a fraudulent count of votes for District Four for both the general and regional elections. Joseph’s bail was set at a total of $90,000 as she was placed on $30,000 bail for each charge, while Mingo’s total bail amount was $60,000.
Meanwhile, GECOM clerk, Michelle Miller who had yesterday denied involvement in elections fraud, faced two charges of conspiracy to defraud. The charges against Miller state that between March 3rd and March 5th at High and Hadfield streets, with intent to defraud the people of Guyana, she did not use figures from the statements of poll for the purpose of ascertaining the figures to make declarations of the results for the said District Four’s general and regional elections of the said March 2nd elections, as is required by law thereby resulting in a false declaration being made for the said District Four regional and general elections.
Another clerk, Denise Bob Cummings, was charged with conspiracy to defraud. She faced two charges which alleged that she on March 13th at High and Cowan streets, Kingston with intent to defraud the people of Guyana, did not use the figures from the statements of poll for the purpose of ascertaining the figures to make the declaration of the results for both District Four’s general and regional elections, as is required by law which resulted in a false declaration being made for District Four.
Both Miller and Cummings were placed on $30,000 bail for each charge that they were called to answer to.
Meanwhile attorney for Lawrence, Joseph, and Mingo, Nigel Hughes, told reporters outside the court that while they were able to secure bail for his clients, he had asked that they be released on their own recognizance.
According to Hughes, he is not aware of the basis of the charges even as he said that they have not yet received statements in relation to these charges.
“We’re a bit at a loss to find out what would have led to these charges particularly when they were existing charges,” he said while noting that this is the first time that Joseph is appearing before the court.
Additionally Hughes said, “We have been repeatedly asking, we asked today that when they are in a position to proceed with all the charges for the purposes of efficiency, they should bring all those charges at one time.” The attorney went on to say that in doing so they would be able to figure out the most efficient way to have the cases heard before the various magistrates.
“Bringing them in drips, every week or every two days does not help particularly when you report to the court that you have not completed the investigation and that you are asking for more time,” he said while adding that they had asked for a long date later in the year when the investigations have been concluded and both sides are aware of all charges and a decision on how the charges can be dealt with can be made through case management.
He noted that the way in which the charges are being brought are an inconvenience to his clients, namely Mingo and Joseph who would have to travel from Berbice to report to the police station and to appear before the courts.
Meanwhile, Lawrence told reporters that she was saddened for Cummings and Miller who she said have been reporting to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every day since August 26. “One has a sick mother living way over the river and got to come every day and report,” she said.
The former health minister stated that on Tuesday, she and Joseph were asked to report to CID and while there they were asked the same questions that they had been asked before. She noted that they had asked to go to court on Tuesday afternoon seeing that they were at CID earlier in the morning and were told that they would be charged.
“We came this morning to court, they asked us to be here for 9 o’ clock and we were here prior to 9 o’ clock and still the charges did not appear here until after 10 o’ clock” she said while adding that it is harassment. She noted that they were also asked to report to CID today.
The matters were adjourned to October 28 when they will be heard by the Chief Magistrate.
On October 14th, Lawrence faced two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud.
On August 24th, Lawrence was placed on $100,000 bail after appearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennon on private criminal charges including conspiring to forge documents to show a win for APNU+AFC at the March 2nd general elections. The charges were filed on March 13 by Charles Ramson Jr against Lawrence and Mingo in relation to the controversial results for District Four.
On August 31st Mingo was placed on $150,000 bail on each of four charges of misconduct in public office pertaining to the March 2nd general elections.
On September 11 Mingo was read a new charge alleging that he was part of a conspiracy to produce fraudulent results for March 2, 2020 general and regional elections.
