Any prosecution ‘fake’ sin fen election signature
There will be no prosecution after the “fake signature” allegedly used on nomination papers for a Sin Fen election candidate.
The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has decided not to prosecute the case after police investigation on charges of fraud.
It was alleged that in 2023, the Elections stood for Entrims and Newtownbabby Boro Council, which used fake signatures on nomination papers for Gerrard Maggi.
But PPS stated that “the available evidence was insufficient to provide a reasonable possibility of punishment”.
A file reported three people – none of which were Sri Maggi – Was sent to PPS In April last year by the police service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Mr. Maggi was a failed candidate for the party in the Balliclair region during the local government elections in 2023.
During the campaign, it emerged that the council received complaints alleging “fraud membership” regarding their nomination papers.
The allegations were mentioned in Parliament by Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Jim Shannon.
He told the MPs that a person listed as one of the proposers of Mr. Maggi was “the victim of identity fraud”.
“For clarity, the victim does not know Maggi and has not signed his nomination papers,” the MP of Strangford said in the Commons.
The council sought advice from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland and PSNI launched an investigation.
Police presented a file to PPS belonging to three people in April 2024. Mr. Maggi was not one of the reported people on the file.
In a statement, PPS said that the file “told a person in connection with the allegations that a fake signature on a nomination papers was used”.
The file also told two other people “regarding the allegations that they had given a report to the police in relation to the case”.
A PPS spokesman said, “In relation to the three,” it was determined that the available evidence was inadequate to provide a reasonable possibility of punishment “.
He said, “Taking all decisions on this file was done independently, impartially and for prosecutors,” he said.
“All sides have been informed about the outcome of the idea.”
Sin Fen and Mr. Maggi were contacted for comment.
When the police investigation started in the previous statement, Sin Fen said that its nominations for the Balliclair area were “presented in full compliance with the election office rules”.
