Skip to main content

https://demerarawaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FB_IMG_1595594517552.jpg

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield (white shirt) accompanied by Attorneys Nigel Hughes and Neil Boston.

August 10 ,2020

Source

Attorney-at-Law Mr. Nigel Hughes has written Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mrs. Shalimar Ali-Hack asking her to drop all criminal charges that were filed against Chief Election Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Mr. Keith Lowenfield.

Mr. Lowenfield was charged with misconduct in public office, alleged electoral fraud, and conspiracy to alter results that had been declared in the March 2020 elections. He is  on GYD$450,000 bail on the three indictable offences. He is scheduled to return to court next week.

Mr. Lowenfield’s attorney told News Talk Radio 103.1FM/ Demerara Waves Online on Monday that the decision to write the DPP to drop those charges, comes from the recent move to drop all criminal charges against Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission Retired Justice Claudette Singh.

“We have certainly invited the DPP to take similar steps, in a process to have undergone,” Mr. Hughes said, explaining that the missive in this regard was sent out sometime last week.

Three citizens namely Lorraine Joseph, Onita Walcott and Keith Ondaan on July 29, 2020 had filed three separate private criminal charges against the GECOM chair, alleging that she “acted recklessly and unlawfully” and “breached a court order” in relation to the March elections and the national recount.

Mr. Hughes said the DPP was asked to review the statements made in the charges against his client, arguing that the prosecution must be satisfied there is enough evidence to provide a “realistic prospect of conviction” against the defendant, something he argued is not there.

“We believe that the prosecution must find the statements to satisfy the minimum requirements or threshold to amount to criminal charges,” he asserted.

Although the attorney is yet to receive a response from DPP, he said that he is hopeful that due consideration will be given to the request and that on completion of the review of the statements in the case against Mr. Lowenfield, that all charges will be dropped as was done for the GECOM chair.

During the first court hearing, Attorney-at-Law Mr. Glenn Hanoman, who is prosecuting on behalf of the complainants, Desmond Morean of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Daniel Josh Kanhai of The New Movement (TNM), was asked by Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty to obtain and submit copies of witness statements. Mr. Hanoman had argued then that the cases were very serious and almost treason. He said eventually the matters would be taken over by the DPP.

Mr. Hughes had flayed Mr. Hanoman for filing the charges without evidence after he (Mr. Hanoman) asked for a date in September for report and provision of witness Statements to the Defence.“He is not ready and the court is being used as an instrument for some other purpose other than law,” Mr. Hughes had said.

On Saturday, Attorney General Mr. Anil Nandlall told News talk Radio 103.1 FM/Demerara Waves Online that a criminal probe into the administrative operations of the GECOM concerning the 2020 general elections is on the cards, but said other options might include a commission of inquiry or a forensic audit.

If the DPP does not drop the charges against Mr. Lowenfield before the next court hearing which is set for August 14, the case will proceed to a preliminary inquiry to determine if there is sufficient evidence for the Chief Election Officer to face trial by a judge and jury.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

The case will proceed to a preliminary inquiry to determine if there is sufficient evidence for the Chief Election Officer to face trial by a judge and jury.

Why Lowenfield cannot get the same treatment as Madam Chair?

FM
@Former Member posted:

The case will proceed to a preliminary inquiry to determine if there is sufficient evidence for the Chief Election Officer to face trial by a judge and jury.

Why Lowenfield cannot get the same treatment as Madam Chair?

The charges are different.  The case against Claudette Singh has no merit. It was vindictive in that she didn't rule in favour of the Coalition.

There is ample evidence to convict Lowenfield.  

R

Hughes is once again grossly mistaken as he was when he pushed the argument to the Coalition that 34+32=65. The Chairperson did not break any laws where Lowenfield did so on at least 7 different occasions during those 5 long months. He is lucky he isn't charged with treason.

FM
@Former Member posted:

Hughes is once again grossly mistaken as he was when he pushed the argument to the Coalition that 34+32=65. The Chairperson did not break any laws where Lowenfield did so on at least 7 different occasions during those 5 long months. He is lucky he isn't charged with treason.

He is more than lucky. Guyana needs good math teachers.

R
@Ramakant-P posted:

He is more than lucky. Guyana needs good math teachers.

The sad truth is that they weren't lacking math skills. It was more tragic than that. They are lacking the willingness to accept the will of the people of Guyana.

FM
@Former Member posted:

The case will proceed to a preliminary inquiry to determine if there is sufficient evidence for the Chief Election Officer to face trial by a judge and jury.

Why Lowenfield cannot get the same treatment as Madam Chair?

Claudette Singh did not make fraudulent rulings or accepted Mingo's "Alice In Wonderland" numbers. He deserves to be in jail for a long time. Longer than 5 months; more like 5 years.

FM

Funny how with regard to the elections Granger picked some very reputable people perhaps hoping that their stellar reputations would screen his intent to steal the elections. But fortunately for democracy and the people of Guyana, their reputations prevailed crushing his depraved intents. Now he hates all the people whose reputations he sat out to abuse.

FM
@Former Member posted:

The sad truth is that they weren't lacking math skills. It was more tragic than that. They are lacking the willingness to accept the will of the people of Guyana.

Less than 51% is not the will of the people. 

Mitwah
@kp posted:

Deal with it you and the PNC lost, stay aside for the next 25 years.

 AFC is now a Basement party, drinking Rum and getting drunk.

Hey Pablo that's good for you. Stay in the basement with them. 

Mitwah
@Mitwah posted:

Less than 51% is not the will of the people. 

Mits, more than 50% is more than half which is considered a majority. The PNC math is not accepted anywhere else in the world and not even the majority in Guyana.

FM

Lowenfield’s case postponed as DPP to decide whether to drop charges

, News Room - https://newsroom.gy/2020/08/14...her-to-drop-charges/

The case filed against the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield has been postponed until August 24, 2020, as lawyers are awaiting a decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack on whether she will agree with submissions made by counsel to drop the charges against him.

Lowenfield’s lawyer Nigel Hughes had written the DPP asking for the private criminal charges to be dropped in accordance with the same courtesies extended to the Chairperson of GECOM Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh.

It was the DPP who recently decided to drop all charges against Singh.

Lowenfield made his second appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday before Magistrate Faith McGusty where lawyers representing the applicants were expected to present their statements.

But Attorney Sanjeev Datadin, who is one of the Lawyers representing the applicants noted that it “will be imprudent to go ahead” with the disclosure of statements when it is unclear whether the case will continue.

He told the News Room that the DPP has since asked his team to submit their file following which she will make a decision.

https://newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/shalimar.pngDirector of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack

The charges against Lowenfield were filed on June 30 by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) member Desmond Morian and Member of The New Movement, Daniel Josh Kanhai relating to fraud, misconduct in office and breach of the public’s trust by providing results of the March 2 elections which he knows to be false.

Lowenfield first appeared in court on July 24 where he was granted $450,000 bail; $150,000 bail on each charge.

In charges filed against the CEO, it is alleged that between March 5, 2020, and June 23, 2020, Lowenfield conspired with person (s) unknown to commit a common law Fraud, “to wit, by presenting to the Guyana Elections Commission, the tables attached to his Elections Report dated 14th day of March 2020, accurately reflected the true results of the said election, in order to materially alter the results of the said election, with intent to defraud, knowing the tabulation to be false.”

“The Accused between 5th March 2020 and 29th June 2020 while performing his duty as the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission, without lawful excuse or justification, willfully misconducted himself at Georgetown…a place within the Georgetown Magisterial District by ascertaining results of the 2nd March 2020, General and Regional Elections for Guyana knowing the said results to be false, the said willful misconduct amounting to a breach of the public’s trust in the Office of the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission,” the court document stated.

Lowenfield came under scrutiny for preparing his elections report on March 5 which shows a victory for the incumbent APNU+AFC Coalition based on fraudulent and inflated figures provided by Clairmont Mingo, the Returning Officer for Guyana’s largest voting district- Region 4.

The national recount proved that Mingo inflated votes in favour of the Coalition and it was the PPP that actually won the March 2 elections by over 15,000 votes.

The PPP has maintained that Lowenfield knew the true winner the elections since he would have in his possession GECOM’s Statements of Poll (SOPs).

As a result of Mingo’s fraud, GECOM embarked on the national vote recount following which Lowenfield in his summary provided a table which revealed the totals for the ten electoral districts which were signed off by GECOM’s own staff as being valid; when added up, Lowenfield’s report shows the PPP winning the elections by 15, 416 votes.

FM

Charges against him can't be dropped. He committed crimes against the state. Making a correlation between his crimes and the allegations against the GECOM Chair is just one more ridiculous argument by Hughes who once argued that 34+32=65. They needs to go forward with these charges,

FM
@Former Member posted:

Charges against him can't be dropped. He committed crimes against the state. Making a correlation between his crimes and the allegations against the GECOM Chair is just one more ridiculous argument by Hughes who once argued that 34+32=65. They needs to go forward with these charges,

Which governing state  was Ali charged against, the ocean fish men ?  So he was accused  of selling land at a lower market value, that had no owner ? 

Bhai be fair, you have issues against the PNC, but elections caused tensions on both sides. The PNC is not my friend, but the PPP did things that caused serious problems for their voters, that people behind computers might not know, unless you live there.   

Tola
@Tola posted:

Which governing state  was Ali charged against, the ocean fish men ?  So he was accused  of selling land at a lower market value, that had no owner ? 

Bhai be fair, you have issues against the PNC, but elections caused tensions on both sides. The PNC is not my friend, but the PPP did things that caused serious problems for their voters, that people behind computers might not know, unless you live there.   

The 19 frivolous charges against Ali have been dropped by a Magistrate not the DPP so that act has more finality. But Hughes isn't even comparing the dropping of the charges against Ali to his request to have the DPP drop the charges against Lowenfield. He is comparing his client's circumstance to that of the Chairperson whose charges were dropped by the DPP. The problem with Hughes and Lowenfield's argument is that while the Chairperson did not commit any illegal act, Lowenfield did. About 7 times.

FM
@Former Member posted:

Charges against him can't be dropped.

He committed crimes against the state. Making a correlation between his crimes and the allegations against the GECOM Chair is just one more ridiculous argument by Hughes who once argued that 34+32=65. They needs to go forward with these charges,

Different strokes for different people .

Django
@Django posted:

Different strokes for different people .

@Former Member posted:

What stroke PNC had. They got bowled off the back foot. Good thing they lost. Now their thievery is showing.

Unfortunately there is no grasp of the post. Perhaps is should have been presented more detailed.

Django
Last edited by Django
@Former Member posted:

Ali's charges dropped, Claudette Singh charges dropped, but not Lowenfield, Mingo and Volda Lawrence. Is the a witch hunt?

No. There is evidence of Lowenfield Mingo and Lawrence fraud regarding the elections.

FM
@Former Member posted:

No. There is evidence of Lowenfield Mingo and Lawrence fraud regarding the elections.

The evidence wasn't presented in court for Lowenfield and Mingo and Lawrence weren't served. When we go from here?

FM
@Django posted:

There is a dirty Racist game playing in Guyana ,supported by many folks in the diaspora and the homeland.

Is true bai. They are based in Brooklyn with Burke as their leader.

FM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×