Police investigating alleged attempts by embattled ACP Brutus to leave Guyana via Lethem

Embattled Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Calvin Brutus who is facing over 200 fraud charges was intercepted on Monday at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo).

A release issued by the Home Affairs Ministry on Thursday stated that on December 16, 2024, a vehicle bearing Brazilian registration number NUK 8E96 was intercepted by law enforcement officers on its approach to the Takutu Bridge, Lethem.
The release stated that the vehicle at the time was carrying a driver and one passenger who was attempting to depart Guyana without reporting to an immigration officer.
“Upon inspection, the passenger of the vehicle was identified as Mr. Calvin Brutus, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) (ag) who is currently on administrative leave. Mr. Brutus is currently under a court order prohibiting him from leaving the jurisdiction, as he faces criminal charges stemming from investigations into alleged financial crimes,” the release added.
However, following the interception, Brutus was informed by the police that he could not leave the country and as such, he subsequently returned to Ogle from Lethem on the same day.
“The Ministry assures the public that further investigations into this matter are underway, and appropriate responses will be taken in accordance with the law. The Ministry remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all individuals comply with appropriate legal and procedural requirements.”
In response to the missive, Brutus accused the Ministry of deliberately misleading the country, the Commander-In-Chief and the international community.
“At no point did I attempt to leave Guyana since the Magistrates’ Court ruled. It should be noted that I, Calvin Brutus, Deputy Commissioner of Police (ag) have no business or interest in fleeing this country as I plan to remain and challenge every charge that was filed against me following a tainted investigation by SOCU,” the ACP stated in a release to the press late Thursday evening.
He added that while his matter remains in Court, there is no law or court order, preventing him from travelling around the country.
“The resources the state is using to trail me as they did in Lethem with a white pickup, should be the same resources and energy used to root out corruption for which I have seemingly become the poster boy ahead of elections.”
The ACP noted that he booked his ticket on Saturday, December 14, 2024, and travelled to Lethem to check on his father for the Christmas Season and he will be returning to Lethem soon.
“I wish to state that the security detail trailing me, while not requested, is very flattering. Even in Georgetown, I am afforded this luxury by a force that is always accused of not having vehicles to respond to reports from citizens. This luxury is further extended to me whenever I head out to purchase bread or take my son to school.”
He added that his travel to Lethem was done via plane and as such, anyone with a desire to leave Guyana unauthorized has many options through which they can leave given the country’s porous borders.
“Someone who wants to leave the country undetected doesn’t book a detectable flight, or go up to an Immigration checkpoint where the men and women working there know you by name, face and appearance. They are my colleagues. I challenge the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide the video or photographic evidence to support its claim of my attempting to flee Guyana.”
Brutus, has been slapped with 231 charges that pertain to liability of officer and is on $16 million bail.
The charges have their genesis in the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU’s) investigation of Brutus, which began in July 2024. Initially linked to the Police Force’s Credit Union, the investigation quickly expanded following information provided by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
The Assistant Police Commissioner’s assets include $300 million in properties and $500 million across joint bank accounts with his wife, who has also been charged. As a result, most of these accounts have been frozen.
As part of the case, it has been revealed that Brutus received monetary gifts from two individuals. These gifts included US$10,000 as a wedding present and $1 million as a Christmas gift in 2023.
When Brutus appeared in court in November, he was not allowed to plead to the indictments because they were laid as indictable matters. SOCU said that on January 11, 2024, Brutus allegedly instructed a Superintendent of Police to prepare and issue two cheques valued at $6.4 million and $7.4 million from the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Central Welfare Fund to purchase goods that were never supplied.
Further, on January 31, 2024, he instructed the GPF’s Finance Officer to submit 221 payment vouchers to him to procure goods from his wife’s business, but these vouchers were never returned.
Again, on November 16, 2023, the Finance Officer was instructed by the ACP to prepare a cheque to the tune of $20 million to purchase police regulation shoes for the Quartermasters stores, but those were never supplied. In addition, several other charges related to the purchase of lands were read to Brutus.