[Extended Report]
What was once viewed as a stellar 25-year career in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for Deputy Commissioner (ag) Calvin Brutus is now under severe scrutiny.
Calvin Brutus, his pregnant wife, his driver, and a businessman were on Thursday placed on bail totaling $9.1 million after they faced a slew of charges, the majority of which were financial crimes of hundreds of millions of dollars belonging to the Guyana Police Force.
Dressed in his uniform and sporting a calm demeanor, Brutus appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court just after 13:00 hrs and was immediately ushered into the courtroom of Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith Mc Gusty.
He was accompanied by a battery of lawyers.
After two hours in the courtroom, packed with media operatives, a total of 30 charges ranging from misconduct in public office and obtaining money by false pretense to larceny, money laundering and liability of an official were read to Brutus.
He was not required to plead to the charges. Bail was granted in sums ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 for the charges.
Altogether, the bail for Brutus amounted to $6.2 million.
The charges against Brutus reveal a disturbing pattern of alleged corruption during his tenure from December 2023 to July 2024, a period when he oversaw the GPF’s administration.
CHARGES FOR ADONIKA AULDER
Brutus’ pregnant wife, 25-year-old Adonika Aulder was present in Court on Thursday.
At times she appeared nervous and the prosecution’s sternness was reduced when her condition was taken into consideration
Aulder was charged separately with two money laundering charges amounting to a total sum of $473 million.
The details of these charges allege that between December 2023 and July 2024, she acquired and placed $293 million in a Republic Bank account belonging to one of two businesses in her name.
These monies are believed to be the proceeds of crime.
Separately, and during the same period, she allegedly acquired another $180 million, placing it into the second business account at Republic Bank.
She was granted bail in the sum of $500, 000 on each charge; a total of $1 million. Bail was granted on the condition that she lodges her passport with the Court.
THE DRIVER AND BUSINESSMAN’S INVOLVEMENT
The first two charges to be read in Court on Thursday were joint charges related to conspiracy by obtaining money by false pretense for Brutus; his driver, Sergeant Kevin George and businessman, Asif Zafarally.
George, 31, is said to have 13 years of service in the GPF and has two children, while Zafarally is 34 years old and a businessman owning an automotive and sales logistics company on the East Bank of Demerara.
They are accused of acting in conspiracy with Brutus back in June and July 2024 by uplifting cheques from the GPF Consumers Cooperative Societies Limited for goods that were never supplied.
They uplifted in the first instance $71 million and then $22 million.
After pleadings from the prosecution for bail to be set to a significant sum, they were granted their pre-trial liberty in the sum of $500, 000 for each charge.
Zafarally faced two similar charges on his own which were transferred to the East Bank Magisterial District to be recalled.
THE DEPTH OF BRUTUS ALLEGED CORRUPTION
The scale of the alleged corruption involving Brutus is staggering.
The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) investigated financial crimes linked to him that amount to around $800 million, including $300 million in assets and properties, and $500 million in frozen bank accounts.
So in addition to the 30 charges read to Brutus in court on Thursday, roughly 200 more charges are still to be read to him at a later date.
In addition to the conspiracy charges he faced jointly with his driver and the businessman, Brutus faced 28 charges on his own.
MISCONDUCT IN PUBLIC OFFICE
Brutus was slapped with four misconduct in public office charges.
The court heard that he issued two cheques – for $6 million and $7 million respectively – from the Guyana Police Central Welfare Fund to himself.
He is also accused of instructing Women Superintendent Inspector Collins from the Police Consumers Coop Society to prepare cheques in his name for $60 million.
This was reportedly for repairs and maintenance of the coop society’s building but the monies were never used or intended for that purpose.
Additionally, Brutus allegedly instructed Collins to prepare a check for $20 million. This money was intended to buy shoes/boots and navy drills for the quartermaster stores but these items were never purchased or delivered.
Instead, Brutus deposited the money in his bank accounts.
Fourthly, he is accused of instructing another police officer to submit 221 payment vouchers which were paid to his wife and never returned.
On these four charges, Brutus secured bailed at $300, 000 each.
LIABILITY OF AN OFFICIAL
For these same 221 payment vouchers, Brutus is facing liability of an official charges but only 20 of those charges were read in court on Thursday.
The court heard that on December 30, 2023 Brutus handed these vouchers to his wife and created the opportunity for her, through her registered businesses, to defraud the state.
These vouchers were all written in sums ranging from $100, 000 to $200, 000.
On these 20 charges, Brutus secured bail in the sum of $100, 000 each – amounting to a total of $2 million.
The prosecutor told the court that while the accused have been cooperating during the investigation, Brutus has never made himself available for questioning.
He further noted that this is the first time that a liability of an official charge is being laid in court by SOCU.
MONEY LAUNDERING
Brutus also faced two charges related to money laundering.
In the first instance, the Court heard that he paid $85 million for a property at 5th Street, Albertown in Georgetown – former Frenzy Bar – with monies believed to be from the proceeds of crime.
And on the second charge, the Court heard that Brutus paid $20 million for a property at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara. This money is also alleged to be derived directly or indirectly from crime.
For each of these charges, Brutus was placed on bail in the sum of $500, 000.
LARCENY BY PUBLIC OFFICER
Additionally, Brutus was charged with larceny by a public officer for stealing $60 million and $20 million on separate occasions from GPF.
These are believed to be related to the two cheques prepared by Collins and handed over to Brutus.
For these charges, he also secured bail in the sum of $500, 000 for each charge.
- And so…
With over 200 charges still to be addressed, the gravity of this case cannot be overstated.
The charges were laid by SOCU following a comprehensive investigation, in line with legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The matters are adjourned to November 18 and 21, respectively.
Brutus has, however, maintained his innocence.
Now that the charges are instituted, necessary legal steps will be taken to remove him from office in compliance with the law.
As the legal battle unfolds, the once-respected Deputy Commissioner now faces a daunting challenge to restore his tarnished reputation.
(Reporting by Sharda Bacchus and Kurt Campbell)
