–police sergeant, businessman also arraigned
EMBATTLED Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Calvin Brutus, his pregnant wife Adonika Aulder, a police sergeant, and a businessman were brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday, when they faced numerous charges related to serious financial crimes and other offences.

The quartet was arraigned before acting Chief Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty on charges stemming from an investigation by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
In court, Brutus, 44, an attorney-at-law with 25 years of service in the Police Force, faced 30 charges, including money laundering, obtaining money by false pretense, misconduct in public office, liability of officials, and larceny by public official.

Brutus, along with his former driver, Police Sergeant Kevin George and businessman Asif Zafarally, 34, from Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara (EBD), is accused of obtaining money by false pretense.
It is alleged that on June 29 and July 9, 2024, with intent to defraud, they conspired along with each other to uplift $93.6 million from the Guyana Police Consumers’ Cooperative Society Limited (GPCCSL), for goods that were never delivered to the co-op society.
They were each granted $500,000 bail for each of these two charges. Sergeant George is a 31-year-old father of two and has served as a police officer for 13 years.

MONEY LAUNDERING
Brutus’s pregnant wife, 25-year-old Adonika Aulder, was charged separately with two counts of money laundering, involving $352 million held in her company’s account at Republic Bank.
The allegations claimed that in December 2023, she acquired, possessed, or used $352,082,315 from her company’s bank account at Republic Bank, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the funds were wholly or partially derived, directly or indirectly, from the proceeds of a crime. She was granted $1 million bail for these 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 $500,000 bail for 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 possessed, acquired, and used $93.6 million from his company’s bank account, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the funds were wholly or partially derived, directly or indirectly, from the proceeds of a crime.

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

Another charge claimed that Brutus directed an Inspector from the Guyana Police Consumers’ Cooperative Society Limited (GPCCSL) to prepare and encash a cheque in her name for $60 million from GPCCSL’s current account at Republic Bank.
This amount was intended for repairs and maintenance of police infrastructure, and he allegedly took possession of the funds knowing that the repairs had not been completed and without justification.

A further charge stated that he instructed the same Inspector to prepare and encash a cheque in her name for $20 million from GPCCSL’s current 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 caused the Police Finance Officer to submit 221 payment vouchers related to two companies registered in his wife’s name, which he failed to return to the Police Finance Office.
Brutus was granted bail in the amount of $300,000 for each of the four charges.

LARCENY BY PUBLIC OFFICER, LIABILITY OF OFFICIALS
Additionally, Brutus faced two charges of larceny by a public officer, with allegations stating 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 for these charges.
Furthermore, Brutus has been charged separately with 20 counts of liability of officials under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. The charges indicated that on various dates in 2023; while serving as Deputy Commissioner (Administration), he facilitated the opportunity for his wife to defraud the State of some $3,999,840, through her businesses.

The senior policeman was granted $100,000 bail for each of the 20 charges. The prosecutor noted that this marks the first time an offence of this nature is being prosecuted in Guyana.

BAIL CONDITIONS
The four accused, each represented by attorneys, were not required to enter a plea to the indictable charges. Bail for Brutus was set at a total of $6.2 million, while his wife, Sergeant George, and businessman Zafarally were granted $1 million, $1 million, and $2 million bail, respectively.

The accused are required to report to the police regularly and have surrendered their passports as part of their bail conditions.
The businessman was represented by attorneys Glenn Hanoman and Everton Singh-Lammy. Brutus and his wife are being represented by a team of attorneys, including Earl Daniels, Eusi Anderson, Yuborn Allicock, Renea Marcus, Cassidé Nurse, and Dominick Bess, who all also appeared on Sergeant George’s behalf. The money laundering charges against Zafarally have been transferred to the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts for November 21, 2024.

The other charges will be called again in the city court on November 8, 2024, when more charges for the offence of liability of officials are expected to be read to ACP Brutus.
A thorough investigation conducted by SOCU revealed that the case involved over $800 million. Of this amount, $300 million is associated with properties and other assets belonging to Brutus and his wife.

The remaining $500 million has been frozen in several bank accounts belonging to Brutus, his wife, their businesses, and their four-year-old son. Charges were recommended for the accused persons by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
In connection with the investigations, Brutus has initiated a constitutional action against several entities, including the Police Service Commission, the Attorney General, the Police Commissioner, SOCU, and the Minister of Home Affairs.

Last Friday, Justice Gino Persaud denied Brutus and his wife permission to travel to the USA for what they claimed was “urgent medical treatment” for the pregnant woman, citing the impending charges against them. The judge’s decision was influenced by the serious nature of those charges.