The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to press charges against Assistant Police Commissioner (ag) Calvin Brutus in connection with an ongoing financial crimes investigation. The charges are related to alleged money laundering and procurement fraud amounting to approximately $800 million.
According to sources, SOCU is now tasked with arresting Brutus to formally institute over 240 charges and present him before the court.Police ranks, including members of SOCU and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, were seen outside Brutus’s residence on Wednesday night. Despite the presence of law enforcement, Brutus did not allow the officers to search his apartment, insisting that only those whose names were listed on the search warrant be permitted inside.
He said, “I invited them, but just the persons whose names are on the warrant… They weren’t too keen or interested because they left.”Brutus, who is being investigated for financial crimes involving frozen assets and properties, expressed concern over what he described as a disproportionate show of force, stating, “SWAT is for high-profile cases where the suspect or person of interest is expected to use violence against law enforcement officers… The use of SWAT is disproportionate and uncalled for.”
He added that the heavy-handed tactics have left him fearing for his safety and that of his family: “Yes, because of the statements that are being made at press conferences… I’m concerned for my safety and my family.”
SOCU’s investigation has revealed significant financial irregularities. Brutus is said to own assets valued at $300 million, while $500 million remains in frozen bank accounts held by him, his wife Adonika Aulder, their businesses, and even their toddler. An affidavit filed by SOCU’s head, Fazil Karimbaksh, disclosed that Brutus purchased an $85 million property in Alberttown earlier this year.
Despite his monthly salary of $491,487, Brutus reportedly withdrew $63 million from his salary account to complete the purchase, having paid an initial $21 million months earlier.
In addition to the financial probe, Brutus has filed legal action alleging victimisation and improper administrative procedures. He is seeking several declarations from the court, including a claim that his transfer and the subsequent instructions for him to go on leave were politically motivated.
Brutus’s legal battle, according to Attorney General Anil Nandlall, has revealed substantial details about his financial activities, including his connections to numerous bank accounts frozen under Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation.
Nandlall had remarked, “It held dozens of millions of dollars, representing years of unwithdrawn salaries.”Brutus has maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal, insisting that the charges stem from manipulation and fabrication of evidence.
“I intend to vigorously defend these matters because there is clear evidence that what is happening is the matter of manipulation of evidence, fabrication of evidence, just to make out a case against me,” he stated. He further emphasized that his businesses are legitimate, saying, “I have been doing business in accordance with the laws of Guyana, compliances, submissions of tax returns and all of that.” The standoff between Brutus and SOCU comes at a time of heightened public interest, with many questioning the transparency of the investigation.
Nandlall acknowledged these concerns, noting, “The contention was that the police cannot investigate themselves, especially since some officers at SOCU may have their own ‘bones in the closet.’”
However, he affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the investigation proceeds impartially, despite the skepticism surrounding it.Brutus’s legal team has already initiated court proceedings to challenge what they describe as a politically motivated attack.
Last week, Justice Gino Persaud denied Brutus and his wife’s request to travel to the United States for medical reasons, citing the severity of the charges pending against him.
Brutus is expected to face formal charges soon, with Nandlall indicating that his dismissal from the Guyana Police Force could follow.
