Assistant Commissioner of Police, Edgar Thomas, who was the Police Commander of Region Four in March 2020, on Thursday admitted that he destroyed his diary issued by the Police and which contained confidential information in relation to the March 2020 General and Regional elections.
Thomas made this revelation as he testified under oath before acting Chief Magistrate, Faith McGusty as the trial into the March 2020 electoral fraud continues.
During the 2020 elections, Thomas headed Police Division 4. This means he had responsibility for areas within the entire city of Georgetown, stretching all the way to the arch at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Command Center was situated at the Ashmins Building in Georgetown. There, Thomas was responsible for external security.
Thursday’s hearing commenced with Thomas being crossed examined by defence attorney, Eusi Anderson.
During his hours-long cross examination, Thomas, among other things, admitted that he received information from the then Commissioner of Police Leslie James to ensure that the Command Center and all elections material were protected.
This, he said was documented in his personal diary which was issued to him by the Guyana Police Force.
Like many other organisations, the police force issues a diary to its ranks. The diary is used for the ranks’ personal use.
It is not for official use like a pocket book. So, this means Thomas can do what he wishes with it.
And so he did. Thomas told the court that in 2023, three years after the elections, he destroyed the diary since it contained “classified” information. He could not disclose any other details due to its confidentiality.
“Because the way the source of information come from I know it had to be classified.
“I am unable to tell the court the details of my classified information,” Thomas told the court.
Classified information in law enforcement means confidential.
For example, if a source divulged information, ranks are not allowed to reveal the source or details of any of the information provided.
Destruction of the diary, Thomas told the court is something he does periodically.
The defence forced heavily on Thomas credibility. Thomas is currently the Head of the Presidential Guard, a position he held since 2020.
One, which he told the court he is confident he is capable of holding and do so with “integrity and professionalism”.
Further, during cross examination by defence attorney, Nigel Hughes, Thomas said he didn’t tie the events of the 2020 elections to the destruction of his diary.
Nine individuals are currently before the court, charged with conspiring to manipulate the election results in favour of APNU+AFC, thereby seeking to deny victory to the PPP. Those charged include former government minister Volda Lawrence, former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, and former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers, among others.
The controversy surrounding the March 2020 elections delayed the results for five months until PPP candidate Irfaan Ali was sworn in as president in August 2020.
The trial continues on Friday.
The post Elections Fraud Trial: Fmr. Police Commander destroyed personal diary with ‘confidential information’ appeared first on News Room Guyana.
