The magistrate dismissed the case after Sgt Gobin Haripersad told the court he could not find the prosecution file against the woman, which he had submitted to the head of his department ten years ago.
She was among 28 defendants charged with voter padding in the 2001 general elections in which there was tie of 18-18 for the governing UNC and the opposition PNM.
Ali-Johnson was charged with attempting to change her address to Lazarrie Street, Palmiste. Baksh was the candidate for San fernando West in that election. He lost the seat to the PNM candidate.
Her lawyer Chateram Sinanan told reporters politics was behind the case.
“It’s ten years too long. Matters like these should have been dealt with long time ago and one must consider any political motives behind this,” he said.
“I would not be surprised if all of those matters suffer the same fate. Clearly these matters started off as being an abuse of process being charged under the Perjury Act and after ten years and more, in some cases, not being able to prosecute continues to be an abuse of process.
"No one can accept as being reasonable, for an offence of this nature, ten years after, cannot get off the ground.”
Ali-Johnson wept on hearing the verdict. She told reporters, “I feel very happy. Justice is served at long last. Justice should have been served longer. I am so happy that it is over that I do not want to go back into what I experienced."
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