Private criminal charges against Keith Lowenfield withdrawn

…cases by State to proceed

The three private criminal charges filed against Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield were withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This is according to Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes on Friday when the CEO made another appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

According to Hughes, the electoral fraud charges brought against his client are still engaging the attention of the court but the private criminal charges were withdrawn.
The private criminal charges were filed against Lowenfield for conspiracy to commit fraud, misconduct in public office and breach of public trust by The New Movement (TNM) candidate Daniel Kanhai and PPP/C candidate Desmond Morian.
However, Hughes raised concerns that Member of Parliament for People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Sanjeev Datadin was appointed special prosecutor in Lowenfield’s matters.
In relation to this objection, Hughes was told by the court to put his submissions in writing, and return to court in three weeks.
Meanwhile, Sanjeev Datadin requested a summary disposal of the matter.
Meanwhile, in the case against Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers, the same objections were made, since Datadin will also be prosecuting the case.
Myers was slapped with two counts of misconduct in public office charges regarding the March 2 election. She was granted $150,000 bail on each charge.
Outside of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday, Sanjeev Datadin, who was appointed special prosecutor, reiterated that the allegation made by the defence has no merit.
“In terms of the allegation that were made about whether I am a MP, and whether I can be a prosecutor, there are five other prosecutors. The risks that they are complaining of is really nothing with the reality of what is really going on…”, Datadin said.
Meanwhile, Josh Kanhai on Friday said via social media said that DPP had informed him that the charges would be withdrawn.
“Do not be alarmed. A few weeks ago, I would have informed the public that the DPP will be taking over the investigation into Keith Lowenfield’s fraudulent behaviour during the GRE2020. This move by the DPP was one I endorsed simply because the Police would have a much more robust system of investigating and they would also have exclusive access to the evidence which would be in the possession of the public office where Mr. Lowenfield sits, an advantage in our eyes,” Kanhai said via social media.
The Guyana Police Force had launched a probe into criminal conduct by Lowenfield and others in relation to the events of the March 2 elections. He along with Myers, People’s National Congress Chair Volda Lawerence and Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo have since been slapped with several elector fraud charges. They are all on bail.