The trial into the March 2020 General and Regional Elections continued on Tuesday with further testimony focused on the arrest, questioning, and treatment of former Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.
Acting Chief magistrate, Faith McGusty is presiding over the trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The proceedings continued in the void dére with Mingo remaining on the witness list, before the main trial shifted to evidence from Lance Corporal Sherwyn Benjamin, who is stationed at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters.
Benjamin told the court he had copied all relevant station diary entries relating to Mingo.
Assistant Superintendent Komal Pitamber later took the stand and recounted that on August 25, 2020, during the afternoon period, other ranks conducted an interview with Mingo.
He said Mingo was informed of the reasons for his arrest and that his attorney, Darren Wade had come to visit. However, Pitamber explained that when he took Mingo downstairs to meet Wade, the attorney had already left.
Wade subsequently returned and Pitamber said Mingo was able to meet with him.
Pitamber further testified that a video interview was conducted with Mingo later that night. He said the former Returning Officer was told of the allegation and requested the presence of his attorney. Station diary entries were made to reflect this.
He stressed that Mingo was never denied access to legal counsel and that he made multiple requests to have his lawyer with him during various stages of the process.
Additionally, Pitamber noted that Mingo was never told he would be released if he chose not to participate in an interview, and made no complaints of stress, pressure or of any adverse conditions at the Sparendaam Police Station.
During cross-examination, attorney Nigel Hughes highlighted that approximately one hour after Wade arrived, he was allowed to speak to Mingo.
The court also heard from Head of the Major Crimes Unity, Mitchell Caesar, who testified that he interviewed Mingo around 11 p.m. that night.
Caesar said he saw nothing improper about conducting an interview at that hour, telling the court he was not required to wait for a suspect to be “prepared” before an interview.
Nine individuals, including former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, Mingo, and former government minister Volda Lawrence, are charged with conspiring to manipulate the Region Four results in favour of the APNU+AFC coalition, thereby denying victory to the PPP.
“I see this as a separate interview. Mr. Mingo could have done the same thing in the other interview,” Caesar said.
The trial is set to continue on Wednesday.
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