DEPUTY Commissioner (DC) of Police, Fazil Karimbaksh, has been notified that he is eligible for 174 days of pre-retirement leave, with the leave scheduled to commence on November 8, 2026, as the Guyana Police Force continues to deal with rape allegations filed against him by a female Police Inspector.
A letter dated October 7, 2026, from Commissioner of Police, Dr Clifton Hicken, addressed to Karimbaksh in his capacity as Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), states that the senior officer is eligible for 174 days of annualised vacation leave before retirement.
The letter did not mention the rape allegations or state whether the proposed leave is connected to the investigation.
However, Karimbaksh has challenged the legal basis for compelling him to proceed on leave, through his attorney-at-law, Rizwaun Mohamed.
In a letter dated October 10, 2026, Mohamed informed the Commissioner that his client disputes both the proposed leave arrangement and the calculation of his entitlement.
According to the attorney, official records indicate that Karimbaksh is entitled to 118 days of leave, rather than the 174 days stated by the Commissioner. He added that his client is scheduled to retire in April 2027.
Mohamed also questioned the legal authority for compelling his client to take pre-retirement or administrative leave, arguing that the relevant provisions of the Police Act and the Constitution must be considered in determining the authority to impose such a measure.
The attorney further contended that disciplinary control over officers of Karimbaksh’s rank falls under the Police Service Commission, and argued that the commission’s reported absence does not automatically transfer its powers to another authority.
Mohamed warned that legal proceedings would be instituted if his client were compelled to proceed on leave without lawful authority.
The attorney stated that Karimbaksh remained ready and available to perform his duties and that his objections should not be interpreted as acceptance of the proposed leave arrangement.
The latest correspondence comes after the Guyana Police Force announced last Thursday that Karimbaksh had been sent on leave pending the outcome of an investigation into rape allegations made against him by a female Police Inspector.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, and no finding of guilt is implied.
