As silence continues over the SOCU money-laundering probe into Assistant Commissioner of Police, Calvin Brutus, the Sunday Stabroek has learnt that Top Cop Clifton Hicken submitted a statement to the investigators acknowledging that he collected an envelope with $8.5m in cash from a businessman to offset the cost of Brutus’s wedding at the Pegasus Suites Atlantic Conference Centre.
Hicken’s statement to the investigators, seen by the Sunday Stabroek, will raise further concerns about the culture in the police force of accepting money and incentives from the business community despite the fact that this could undermine the role of law enforcers.
The statement by Hicken was meant to corroborate Brutus’ contention that he (Brutus) had collected a large amount of monetary gifts at his wedding which were later deposited at a bank and which then triggered a money-laundering investigation by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).
In his May 20, 2024 statement to investigators, Hicken related being invited to Brutus’ November 11th 2023 wedding.
The Top Cop said that he had instituted a policy of motivating his officers by supporting them for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. This, he said, entailed “support from a stakeholder’s approach”.
Hicken related that “As such, I decided to continue this policy and proceed(ed) to inform several of my personal friends and stakeholders about (the scheduled) wedding of Calvin Brutus…”
The Top Cop added that in the weeks leading up to the wedding Brutus informed him that several friends and family had given him cash towards the wedding and several others had expressed a willingness to support him financially. Hicken said that he was asked by Brutus whether he (Brutus) was required to write officially for permission to keep the cash already collected and expected.
Hicken said that he recognized that the persons giving cash and jewellery were Brutus’ family and friends.
“As such, I provided verbal no objection to the process in addition to the fact that it is the culture in Guyana and these gifts were not (connected) to his official capacity”. Hicken said that he contacted the management of the Pegasus Suites and reserved the venue.
“I also made an order for the meals, beverages, and accessories to make the wedding a success. I was provided with a quotation of ($8,474,977) …for the wedding package…”, Hicken related. He said that he then informed several of the “stakeholders” that offered to assist with the wedding expenses and quotation received from the Pegasus.
“Between 1st to 10th November, 2023 I received cash from (businessman) in (a) large envelope. I subsequently counted the cash and it amounted to ($8.5m). I was told by (the businessman) that the extra cash must be kept for any unforeseen expenses”, Hicken said in the statement.
He said that he then sent his personal assistant with the money to make the payment at the Pegasus. On the day after the wedding, Hicken said that he received of a refund of $981,783 and handed it to Brutus as “in principle” it belonged to him and his wife.
Deposited
Stabroek News had earlier reported that Brutus told investigators that he deposited $46.4m on the 17th of January this year which were proceeds from his wedding on November 11th last year and Christmas gifts.
His statement on May 14, 2024, seen by Stabroek News, painted a picture of permissiveness in the force and access to a wide variety of fringe benefits.
Brutus said that on December 12, 2023, after his honeymoon and a period of work, he sorted out his wedding gifts and prepared a declaration on the source of funds but was unable to deposit it that day. He said his busy schedule prevented him from being able to do it in December last year. During the month of December he said that he also received incentives and awards, stipends and extra duty money from the police finance department. He also received gifts in his personal capacity from friends but again due to his hectic schedule was unable to sort them out.
He said he then placed all the Christmas gifts with the wedding gifts in the same room of his premises. “After the busy period, I sorted out the gifts received for Christmas 2023. I recognized that it was a large amount of cash and decided to promptly deposit same in the Bank as a precaution..
On January 16 this year, he said he prepared a declaration of the source of funds for the Christmas gifts being $8.48m. On January 17, 2024, he said that he gave the teller at Demerara Bank Limited the declarations with copies of the wedding invitation and certificate of marriage, cash and cheques in the total of $46.4m. The teller deposited the money and provided him with a deposit receipt.
On May 14, 2024 at about 8 am he said that he was contacted by Assistant Superintendent Roopnarine and informed about the allegation of money laundering made by the Financial Intelligence Unit.
“I told Assistant Superintendent Roopnarine that the persons (relatives and friends) would be willing to assist him in the investigation by giving statements to support my declarations provided upon making the deposit at Demerara Bank Limited. I then contacted relatives and friends that presented me with financial gifts for my wedding and Christmas, 2023 and asked them to give statements to investigators of the Special Organised Crime Unit. I later submitted this statement which (is) true and correct.”
In the earlier part of his statement, he spoke about the culture of gift giving.
“During the twenty five…years tenure , I have developed many friendships with people of all walks of life and maintained such relationships. These relationships have helped greatly during the execution of my duties as a law enforcement official and private capacity too. I have received many personal gifts before becoming a policeman and throughout my tenure, and I (understand) this to be a cultural phenomenon in Guyana”, he said.
He also addressed the range of benefits available.
He said that he resided in a government building and did not have to expend personal finances on rent and utilities.
His current position includes a police vehicle and driver, a maid, one security person on a 24-hour shift system, meals, medical benefits, a post-paid cellular plan and allowances from the police credit union, the Guyana Police Cooperative Consumers Society and the Special Constabulary Board etc.
“Essentially, there is hardly any requirement for me to spend the money received as salary and emoluments, there it is save(d) in (my) Demerara Bank Account”, he said.
The government and police have been silent on this investigation.
Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn at the end of August told Stabroek News that he was awaiting an update from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on the probe that was launched. There has been no further word from him.
On July 12, Benn announced that allegations of financial impropriety made against Brutus were being investigated by SOCU.
“Mr. Brutus has proceeded on leave to facilitate a full and complete investigation by SOCU. There will be no action in relation to any promotion of Mr. Brutus under these circumstances. Any promotion will be subject to the outcome of the investigation. SOCU has already commenced its investigation and the Government will be guided by the outcome of such investigation”, Benn had said.
Reports had swirled around Brutus and others in the police force but Eve Leary had shrugged them off.
