A forensic accounting audit has revealed a 20,243-vote disparity between the votes recorded for APNU+AFC on certified Statements of Poll (SOPs) from the 2020 General Elections and the figures contained in the March 5, 2020 declaration submitted to the court.

The evidence was given on Friday by prosecution witness Terrence Jaskaran, a certified forensic accounting auditor, during the elections fraud case.

Jaskaran told the court that APNU+AFC recorded 116,215 votes on the certified SOPs, compared with 136,458 votes on the March 5 declaration, representing a difference of 20,243 more votes on the declaration.

The March 13 declaration recorded 136,057 votes, which was 19,842 more than the figure recorded on the certified SOPs.

Jaskaran’s analysis also identified differences in the figures recorded for the PPP/C.

He said the PPP/C recorded 80,288 votes on the certified SOPs, compared with 77,329 votes on the March 5, 2020 Form 24 declaration, representing a variance of 2,959 fewer votes.

The March 13 declaration recorded 77,231 votes, representing a variance of 3,057 fewer votes when compared with the certified SOPs.

Jaskaran explained that his role was to analyse and tabulate the figures from the certified SOPs and compare them with the declarations on Form 24.

He said he was not tasked with determining what caused the variances.

Meanwhile, Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty overruled objections from defence attorneys Nigel Hughes, Dr. Dexter Todd and Eusi Anderson, who challenged Jaskaran’s qualifications as a forensic accounting auditor.

The objections came after the defence questioned Jaskaran’s experience and qualifications in forensic accounting.

Anderson described Jaskaran as a “sailor in deep waters,” while lead prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani argued that the objections were without merit and that Jaskaran possessed relevant expertise.

McGusty said Jaskaran had consistently outlined his experience in the field since 2010 and deemed him qualified, at this stage of the proceedings, to give evidence as a forensic accounting auditor.

Jaskaran is expected to return to court on Monday, September 21, where he will be cross-examined by the defence.