Police slap Mingo with several charges; Court again refuses to release him

Investigations into the protracted March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections have escalated with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) instituting several charges on controversial Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo.

Acting Chief Justice Rishi Persaud on Friday had granted the police a 24-hour extension to further hold Mingo but that period had expired at 2:30pm on Saturday, when Mingo was expected to be released.

The conditions of the release would be that Mingo must report to Police Officers, Mitchell Caesar, Nigel Stephens and/or Rodwell Sarrabo or the next senior officer at the CID Headquarters Eve Leary, Kingston, Georgetown at 9:00 am daily with effect from today. He was also ordered to lodge his passport with the CID headquarters, and to report any change of residence to one of the officers mentioned. When his Attorney-at-Law, Darren Wade, turned up at CID with his passport in hand, however, he was told that Mingo was slapped with several charges and was not being released. No details of the charges were provided. However, the Attorney General Chambers disclosed, in a statement that Wade filed a Fixed Date Application (Urgent and made with Notice) Saturday.

The lawyer came armed with an Affidavit in Support of Application sworn to yesterday directed to the Commissioner of Police calling for the release of Mingo. The application was heard by Justice Rishi Persaud, the Chief Justice (ag) at 16:45 hours. According to the AG Chamber, Wade and attorney-at-law, Roysdale Forde,SC, appeared for Mingo. Attorney General, Mohabir Nandlall appeared in person for the hearing. Teriq Mohamed, State Counsel, appeared for and on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

(Kaieteur News)