Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and lawyer Calvin Brutus was granted bail in the total sum of $10,050,000 on Monday. He faced an additional 201 charges related to the offense of officer’s liability, marking the first prosecution of its kind in Guyana.
The matters were heard before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty at the Georgetown Magistrates Court. Because the charges were indicted, he was not required to plead.

These latest charges add to the growing list of legal problems facing the 44-year-old cop.

During Monday’s proceedings, one of Brutus’ lawyers, Yoburn Allicock, asked for his client to be released on bail. He reminded the court that Brutus was granted $6.2 million bail last month and had already filed conveyance on his property to secure the bail amount.
The lawyer argued that the purpose of bail is not to punish the accused but to ensure their return to court for trial. Allicock stressed there was no indication his client intended to flee, especially as he had already surrendered his passport.
However, the prosecutor strongly opposed the self-recusal request, citing the numerous charges and the large amount of money involved. Ultimately, Magistrate Mc Gusty ordered Brutus to post $50,000 bail on each of the 201 charges, totaling $10,050,000.
These 201 charges follow 30 charges brought against him last month, which include money laundering, misconduct in public office and theft by a public servant.

Last month, Brutus, his wife, a police sergeant and a businessman were brought before the Georgetown Magistrates Court where they faced numerous charges related to serious financial and other offences. The quartet was arraigned before Magistrate Mc Gusty on charges stemming from an investigation by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) involving over $800 million. In court, Brutus, who has 25 years of service in the police force, faced 30 charges including money laundering, obtaining money by false pretense, misconduct in public office, officers’ liability and theft by a public servant .

Brutus, along with his former driver Police Sergeant Kevin George and businessman Asif Zafarally, 34, of Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara (EBD), are accused of obtaining money by false pretense. It is alleged that between June 29 and July 9, 2024, with intent to defraud, they conspired together to collect $93.6 million from the Guyana Police Consumers’ Cooperative Society Limited (GPCCSL), for goods that did not never been delivered co. – op society. They were each granted $500,000 bail on each of those two charges.
Sergeant George is a 31-year-old father of two and has served as a police officer for 13 years.

Brutus’ wife has been charged separately with two counts of money laundering involving $352 million held in her company’s Republic Bank account. The charges allege that in December 2023, she acquired, held or used $352,082,315 from her company’s bank account at Republic Bank, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the funds were derived in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the proceeds of a crime.
He was granted $1 million bail on those charges.

The two money laundering charges against her husband involved $105 million related to payments he made for properties in Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD) and Alberttown, Georgetown. He was granted bail of $500,000 on each charge.
Meanwhile, businessman Zafarally faced two counts of money laundering.
It is alleged that between July 10 and August 15, 2024, at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) in Providence, EBD, he held, acquired and used $93.6 million from his company’s bank account, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the funds were obtained in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the proceeds of crime.

Brutus was read four counts of misconduct in public office. One charge stated that on January 11, 2024, while serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration), he willfully misbehaved by instructing the Police Finance Officer to issue checks totaling `13,670. $204 from the Central Police Force Social Security Account at Republica Bank for goods he knew were never supplied or delivered, without any justification.

Another charge alleged that Brutus ordered an inspector from the Guyana Police Consumers’ Cooperative Society Limited (GPCCSL) to prepare and cash a check in her name for $60 million from GPCCSL’s checking account at Republic Bank. This sum was intended for repairs and maintenance of the police infrastructure, and he allegedly took possession of the funds knowing that the repairs had not been completed and without justification.

An additional charge said he instructed the same inspector to prepare and cash a check in her name for $20 million from GPCCSL’s checking account at Republic Bank to purchase supplies for the Quarter Master stores, despite knowing that the items were neither supplied nor delivered and without any valid reason. The fourth charge alleged that Brutus induced the police finance officer to file 221 pay slips relating to two companies registered in his wife’s name, which he failed to return to the Police Finance Office.
Brutus was granted $300,000 bail on each of the four charges.

In addition, Brutus faced two counts of theft by a public officer, with charges alleging that between November 16 and November 29, 2023, at police headquarters, he stole $80 million belonging to the GPCCSL. He was granted $1 million bail on those charges.
In addition, Brutus was separately charged with 20 counts of officials’ liability under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. The allegations indicated that on various dates in 2023; while serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration), he facilitated his wife the opportunity to defraud the State of approximately $3,999,840 through his business dealings.

The senior police officer was granted bail of $100,000 on each of the 20 charges.
The four accused, each represented by lawyers, were not required to plead to the charges brought against them. Bail for Brutus was set at a total of $6.2 million, while his wife, Sergeant George and businessman Zafarally were granted bail of $1 million, $1 million and $2 million respectively. With the additional charges, Brutus’ total bail is $16,250,000. All the accused are required to report to the police regularly and surrender their passports as part of their bail conditions, except for Brutus’ wife, who is exempt due to her pregnancy.

As for the disposition of the cases, the prosecutor informed the court on Monday that the charges would remain under indictment, requesting a paper referral to determine whether there is enough evidence for the accused to be tried in the High Court by a judge and jury.
The businessman is represented by lawyers Glen Hanoman and Everton Singh-Lammy. Brutus and his wife are represented by a team of lawyers including Earl Daniels, Eusi Anderson, Yuborn Allicock, Renea Marcus, Cassidé Nurse and Dominick Bess, who also appeared on behalf of Sergeant George. The money laundering charges against Zafarally have been transferred to Diamond/Golden Grove Court for November 21, 2024.

Matters related to the charges read to the defendants last month will be called again on December 18, 2024, for depositions. As for the additional charges, Brutus is scheduled to return to court on January 17, 2025. The charges relate to the alleged embezzlement of more than $800 million during his tenure as deputy police commissioner (ag) for administration.

Prosecutors allege that Brutus used his position to divert public funds into questionable projects, with a significant portion being diverted for personal gain.
Investigations revealed that Brutus and Aulder allegedly obtained substantial funds through illegal means, which they then attempted to disguise in multiple bank accounts.
Of this amount, $300 million is associated with properties and other assets belonging to Brutus and his wife. The remaining $500 million was frozen in several bank accounts belonging to Brutus, his wife, their businesses and their four-year-old son. The charges were recommended to the accused persons by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Brutus maintained his innocence, stating that the charges were fabricated.

He claimed the money in question represented savings accumulated over the years, as well as wedding and holiday gifts from family and friends.