Embattled Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus appeared yesterday before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where State Prosecutor David Brathwaite submitted an application under Section 12 of the Evidence Act, seeking details about Brutus’ unfrozen bank account which is reportedly used to deposit his salary.
The prosecutor presented documents related to agreements of sale for land purchases amounting to $21 million and $63 million, respectively. Brathwaite highlighted that a previous High Court order freezing Brutus’ bank accounts revealed sums totalling $440 million, while the money laundering charges pertain to $85 million. A confidential document was also submitted to the magistrate and the defence team.
After reviewing the submissions, Magistrate McGusty allowed the defence the opportunity to respond. As such, the matter was adjourned to February 7th for a ruling on the application concerning information about Brutus’ remaining unfrozen salary account.
In a related case, co-accused Corwin Nicholson, who faces 14 charges alongside Brutus, was the subject of a prosecution application requesting permanent records from the bank. Brathwaite emphasised the necessity of these records for the ongoing investigation. Attorney-at-law Dominick Bess, who is representing Nicholson, requested time to respond to the application in writing. Nicholson’s matter was also adjourned to February 7.
In October 2024, Brutus was charged with 30 indictable offences, including misconduct in public office, obtaining money by false pretence, larceny, money laundering, and liability of an official. He was granted bail totaling $6.2 million. The charges alleged that Brutus defrauded the Guyana Police Force (GPF) of approximately $800 million, with $300 million in accumulated assets and properties in his name and $500 million in a bank account that has been frozen by the state.
In November 2024, the Assistant Police Commissioner faced an additional 201 financial crime charges, bringing the total to 231. He was granted bail totalling $10.05 million when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The new allegations pertained to “liability of an official,” holding Brutus accountable for actions or inactions in his official capacity.
Brutus has maintained his innocence, asserting that significant deposits, such as $46.4 million made in January 2024, were proceeds from his wedding and Christmas gifts.
