Guyana wins best Regional AML/CFT Case Award for groundbreaking investigation into ACP Brutus

Investigative techniques used to detect fraudulent activities and eventually leading to dozens of charges filed against embattled Assistant Commissioner of Police, Calvin Brutus, for money laundering and other financial related offences have earned Guyana a win of the prestigious Best Regional AML/CFT Case Award (BREMOLT).
The 59th Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Plenary and Working Group Meetings is currently being held from December 1 to 6 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

A delegation, led by Attorney General & Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, is attending the Plenary furthering areas regarding cooperation and collaboration with CFATF Member States and other countries and international agencies attending the meetings.
The BREMOLT Award was contested by four jurisdictions which submitted eight cases to be assessed. Guyana was among three finalists, including Jamaica and The Bahamas, which were nominated by a panel of highly experienced and competent judges from CFATF jurisdictions.
Following presentations from the three finalists, Guyana was adjudged the best-case winner by a majority vote of the delegates of the 24 Member jurisdictions of the CFATF.

“Guyana’s submission provided a synopsis on the use of suspicious transaction reporting, intelligence analysis, and the use of investigative techniques which were used to eventually bring charges against embattled Assistant Commissioner of Police, Calvin Brutus, for money laundering and other financial related offences,” a statement from the AG Chambers on Thursday stated.
The case, the missive added, focused on demonstrating the effectiveness of the AML/CFT systems established and implemented by Guyana before and after its last Mutual Evaluation Report. It said the case also served as a great example to participants attending the Plenary of how the systems that are put in place by countries like Guyana can be used as a deterrent to contributing to the scourge of money laundering and terrorist financing.
“This case was also monumental as it illustrated the possibilities related to abuse of procurement processes, and methods in which the AML/CFT system can be used to minimize such abuse by high-ranking public officials.

This was demonstrated by the real time cooperation among key agencies including the reporting entities, FIU, SOCU, AG Chambers, GRA and the Office of the DPP to successfully bring charges regarding the alleged offences to Brutus and his alleged associates, which included his spouse who was the beneficial owner of a number of corporate entities,” the Chamber added.
It also illustrated Guyana’s commitment to battle corruption and financial impropriety by public officials, regardless of status, to ensure proper management of its financial systems and resources for its citizens.
Additionally, this case was distinguished and recognized for Guyana’s ability to bring a high-ranking police official before the courts for alleged offences, as it involves one of the highest-ranking police officials ever charged with such a crime in the Caribbean region.
ACP Brutus is currently facing 252 cases including fraud, misconduct in public office, money laundering, and liability of an officer. These charges, which are pending in the courts, stemmed from a series of illicit acts for which other persons were also charged alongside the senior Guyana Police Force officer.
The investigation into Brutus began in June of this year when irregular financial activities were flagged in his Police Credit Union account. A subsequent probe revealed over $800 million across eight frozen bank accounts held by Brutus, his wife Adonika Aulder, their son, and companies registered in their names. These accounts were allegedly linked to firms supplying goods to the Police Force, which prosecutors claim were never delivered.
MoU signing
Meanwhile, on the margins of the ongoing plenary, Guyana also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cayman Islands, through their respective Financial Intelligence Units, to further international cooperation and collaboration between the FIUs of these countries.
Additionally, Alicia Williams of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Guyana moderated a Round Table Discussion at the Heads of FIU forum on Sunday December 1, 2024, under the topic: Mastering the Art of Suspending Transactions. The objective of the session was to discuss the challenges, lessons learned, and the successes experienced by peers on the use of the power of suspension/postponement of transactions.
Agencies representing Guyana at the Plenary include the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Bank of Guyana (BOG), Attorney General’s Chambers, Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Cooperatives Department (CCDO), Guyana Securities Council (GSC), Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Gold Board (GGB), Gaming Authority (GA), Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Ministry of Home Affairs Treaty Office (MOHA).