Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, made another court appearance today. He is facing three private criminal charges brought by a member of the People’s Progressive Party, and a nascent political party, Change Guyana.
After the appearance, attorney Sanjeev Datadin, said that the matter has been put down until August 24.
He said that Attorney Nigel Hughes had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions asking her to have a look at the matter.
He said that the DPP has written to the prosecution seeking the files so that she could consider the position of her office. Datadin said that the prosecution has complied.
The Director of Public Prosecutions had earlier nolle prosequi the private criminal charges brought against Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice Claudette Singh
Datadin was asked about the collection of witness statements. The prosecution has so far failed to provide witness statements to the defence.
He said that while his co-counsel, Glenn Hanoman would be better able to explain, there would have been a collection of material that would have been available.
He added that the DPP might choose to request that there be further investigation.
Attorney Hughes had approached the DPP and has asked her to consider dismissing the proceedings.
Datadin contended that it would not be prudent for the prosecution to take any step in the proceeding when the DPP had indicated that she wants to be aware of what the situation is.
The DPP is the constitutional officer with the power to determine whether any matter before the court should proceed.
There was a crowd of supporters outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. When Lowenfield and his team of lawyers appeared the supporters broke out into chants of support. They chanted ‘Free Lowenfield.’
Lowenfield is being defended by a battery of lawyers. The team includes Attorney Nigel Hughes and Senior Counsel Neil Boston.
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