-jointly charged with two others
Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus, Corwin Nicholson and Latoya Brummell appeared yesterday before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where they were jointly charged with seven counts of conspiracy to commit a felony by payment under false pretence.
It is alleged that between December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2024, at the Guyana Police Force Headquarters, Eve Leary Georgetown, with intent to defraud, they uplifted the sums of $14,895,000, $14,851,000, $14,650,450, $14,805,000, $14,535,000, $14,545,600, and $14,725,000, all totalling $103,007,050
The accused were not required to enter a plea on the indictable offence. The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) prosecutor indicated to the court that the state had no objection to Brummell being granted bail, but requested that bail be placed at the sum of $100,000 on each charge.
Attorney-at-law Eusi Anderson who represented Brummell, countered that bail be reduced to at least $50,000 per charge, taking into consideration that his client has been cooperating with the SOCU investigation. He added that his client is a single mother who has to provide for her child, and that there was no evidence that would suggest that his client is a flight risk. However, the prosecution asked that the bail not be reduced, taking into account precedents for persons charged with this type of offences.
After consideration, the magistrate concurred and bail was granted in the sum of $700,000 for each of the three accused.
Meanwhile, other charges were brought against Brutus and Nicholson. Brutus faced additional charges for misconduct in public office. which read that between December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2024, at the Guyana Police Force Headquarters, he willfully misconducted himself and instructed Finance Officer, Bharrat Persaud, to make payable seven Bank of Guyana cheques valued $14,895,000, $14,851,000, $14,650,450, $14,805,000, $14,535,000, $14,545,600, and $14,725,000, respectively, for the supply of various clothing and accessories, among other items for the Guyana Police Force knowing same had not been supplied.
He was also charged with liability of an official which stated that between December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2024, he made the opportunity for Corwin Nicholson to defraud the state of various sums of money, to wit, $14,535,000, $14,395,000, $14,725,000, $14,546,000, $14,650,450, and $14,851,000.
Attorneys, Yuborn Allicock and Dominick Bess, who represented Brutus, said that their client has been placed under significant financial strain with Allicock calling it an abuse of process and questioning why SOCU prosecutors have continuously objected to his client being granted bail.
SOCU prosecutors however, asked that Brutus face $300,000 bail on each charge.
After deliberating on the matter, the magistrate granted bail in the sum of $50,000 on each of the charges bringing his bail to the sum of $1.4 million.
Nicholson faced an additional seven charges for the offence of obtaining money by false pretense.
It was alleged that on January 22, 2024, he obtained the sums of $14,535,000, $14,805,000, $14,546,000, $14,725,000, and $14,395,000, and on January 16, 2024, he obtained the sum of $14,851,000.
Bess who represented Nicholson, told the court that his client’s bank account is frozen and that he was previously placed on bail amounting to $5 million. Further, he pointed out that his client has never missed a reporting date and requested if reporting conditions are to be enforced, that it is done closer to where his client lives in Lethem as it is quite expensive for him to travel to SOCU headquarters in Georgetown. He also requested that bail be granted in a reasonable amount.
The magistrate granted bail in sum of $100,000 on each charge, totalling $1.4 million as well.
On October 24th, Brutus was placed on $6.2 million bail for 31 charges, which included misconduct in public office, obtaining money by false pretence, larceny, money laundering, and liability of an official.
On November 18, Brutus was charged with 201 additional financial crimes. He was granted bail totaling $10.05 million during his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. (Mia Anthony)
