Executive Member of A New and United Guyana (ANUG) Kian Jabour took the stand today as the Election Fraud trial continued. During his testimony, Jabour recounted the chaos that erupted at the GECOM Command Centre during the 2020 elections. He testified about the door of the Office of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) being “kicked down” during the chaos that unfolded.

Jabour told the court that on that particular day, a number of persons had swarmed the third floor of the Ashmins Building, where the GECOM Chairman’s Office was located, and demanded entry into the office.

He said amid rising tension and demands for the door to be opened, “entrance was achieved.” The door was kicked opened.

While under cross-examination by Defence Attorney Nigel Hughes, Jabour said at the time, several police officers were present, and had made it clear that he was not authorized to enter the office of the GECOM Chair.

According to him, the search in pursuit of the Chairman of the Elections Commission followed an attempt by the Region Four Returning officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo to declare the results of the elections for District 4.

Jabour said it was his intention to bring the “wrongful declaration” to the attention of the GECOM Chairman. According to him, at the time, he had not received training on the steps to be taken to challenge declarations by Returning Officers (Ros), and was not aware whether any formal protest was made in response to the declaration made by Mingo.

However, Jabour said once the door was kicked open, he did not present the Chairman of GECOM with a formal letter of protest or complaint. He also admitted that he also did not speak with the Chairman.

“I did not,” he repeatedly said.

Jabour later attempted to back peddle his earlier statement that he kicked down the door, but Hughes reminded him of his earlier statements.

“I did not physically kick the door down,” Jabour said.

But Hughes told him response that: “You just said so repeatedly. I got you about five times on the record. And at one point did you say you didn’t kick down the door.”

Jabour also told the Court that prior to kicking down the door of the office of the GECOM chair, he had also breached a police barricade in his attempt to get to the Chairman, who was reportedly on the third floor.

He told the Court that although he was cognizant of the fact that the orders of the police must be adhered to, he disregarded the instructions of the police on the ground at the time.

He admitted to the Court that he knew at the time that he had no legal justification for his action, which included breaking through a police barricade that was erected.

“I physically pushed my way pass two officers,” he told the Court while being grilled by Hughes. He said he was accompanied by a number of People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) officials, including the then Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali.

According to the ANUG Executive, at the time, he felt that democracy was under threat and time was of the essence.

He said he was never arrested for the breaches.

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