-wife, chauffeur, businessman also before court
By Subhana Shiwmangal
Deputy Commissioner (Ag) of Police, Calvin Brutus was yesterday granted bail in the sum of $6.2 million on 30 indictable charges when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty after days of high drama over claims of corruption and his wife and two other persons were also charged.
Ten of the 30 counts were joint charges shared with his driver, Sergeant Kevin George, 31 who has served the GPF for 13 years and has two children, and businessman, Asaif Zafarali, 34, who owns an auto dealership, among other businesses. In total, Brutus, his pregnant wife, Adonika Aulder, driver, Sergeant George, and Zafarali, were placed on $9.1 million bail with most of the charges being defrauding the Guyana Police Force.
The 30 charges read by Magistrate McGusty stemmed from misconduct in public office, obtaining money by false pretense to larceny, money laundering and liability of an official.
He was not required to plead to the charges and bail was granted at the rate of $100,000 to $500,000 per charge. More charges are expected to follow.
The two joint charges read to Brutus were conspiracy to obtain money by false pretense, and included his driver, and the businessman.
Both of them were accused of acting in conspiracy with Brutus in June and July of this year by uplifting cheques from the GPF Consumers Cooperative Societies Limited for goods that were never supplied. They uplifted $71 million and then $22 million.
There were back and forth conversations between the defence attorneys and prosecutor for bail to be set at a fixed sum, they were finally granted bail in the sum of $500,000 for each charge.
Zafarali faced two similar but separate charges on his own which were transferred to the Diamond Magistrate’s Court for hearing on November 18.
SOCU’s investigation alleged that Brutus had defrauded the GPF of a total of $800 million which included $300 million in accumulated assets and properties in his name. He has $500 million in a bank account which the court has confirmed has been frozen by the state.
Meanwhile his charges didn’t end there, he was charged with four counts of misconduct in public office.
It is alleged that Brutus issued two cheques for $6 million and $7 million from the Guyana Police Force to himself.
It was also alleged that on November 16, 2023, at the GPF headquarters, he instructed Woman Inspector Collins from the Police Consumers Coop Society to prepare a cheque in his name for $20 million. The money was supposed to be used to purchase items for the GPF but they were never purchased and instead, it was deposited into Brutus’ personal account
Thirdly, it is alleged that on June 31, at GPF headquarters, he instructed another police officer to hand in 221 payment vouchers, which he paid to his wife.
Lastly, it is alleged that on November 28 and 29, 2023, at GPF Headquarters, he told Women Inspector Collins from the Police Consumers Coop Society to prepare cheques in his name worth $60 million belonging to Police Consumers Coop Society. The money was supposed to be used for repairs and maintenance of the same Police Consumers Coop Society but instead Brutus collected the money and used it for his own purposes.
On these four indictable charges he was placed on bail at $300,000 each. In relation to the 221 payment vouchers, Brutus was charged with liability of an official but only 20 of those charges were read in court.
Also, it is alleged that on December 30, 2023, Brutus handed the vouchers to his wife which was used through her own business to defraud the state. The voucher ranged from $100,000 to $200,000.
Brutus was given bail in the sum of $100,000 on each count. The scale of charges against such a senior policemen will raise questions about the probity in the police force and how widespread these problems are.
Available
The prosecutor told the court that while the other accused have been cooperating in the investigation, Brutus has never made himself available.
This is the first time a liability of an official charge is being laid in court.
Brutus was also charged with larceny. It is alleged that he used a police officer to steal $60 million and $20 million from GPF on different intervals which has to do with the two cheques prepared by Women Inspector Collins.
He was placed on bail in the sum of $500, 000 for each charge. The matters were adjourned to November 18 and 21 respectively so other charges can be laid against Brutus.
According to SOCU, he was slated to face a total of 240 charges. Brutus also faced two charges related to money laundering. It is alleged that he paid $85 million for a property at 5th Street, Alberttown in Georgetown, with monies from the proceeds of crime.
Secondly, it is alleged that Brutus paid $20 million for a property at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara. This money was taken directly or indirectly from crime.
On each charge he was placed on bail in the sum of $500, 000.
His wife faced two money laundering charges that amounted to $473 million.
It is alleged that between December 2023 and July 2024, she obtained and placed $293 million into a Republic Bank account belonging to one of two businesses in her name which was money derived from crime.
Also, during the same period on different occasion, she allegedly obtained $180 million, and deposited it into the second business account at Republic Bank.
She was granted bail in the amount of $500, 000 on each charge, for a total of $1 million. Bail was granted with the condition that she lodge her passport.
