SOCU refutes claims of withholding evidence in Brutus’ case

The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) has firmly denied allegations that its prosecutors withheld evidence in favour of former Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Calvin Brutus, labelling the claims as “desperate” and “misleading.”
The unit’s response comes as Brutus continues to fight a prolonged legal battle over financial misconduct charges that have significantly impacted his career and reputation.

In a statement issued on Friday, SOCU rejected a news article published by a section of the media, which suggested that the prosecution failed to disclose key statements relevant to the case.
According to SOCU, no reporter was present in court on March 6, when the matter was heard before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty. The agency accused Brutus’ defence counsel of fabricating a story, without allowing the prosecution an opportunity to respond.
During the March 6 hearing, Brutus’ defence lawyer produced a letter requesting disclosure of over 50 statements, claiming they were in the prosecution’s possession.
However, SOCU asserted that the requested statements were either non-existent or had already been disclosed in related cases involving Brutus’ extensive list of financial crime charges. The unit emphasized that all statements relevant to the specific charge before the court had been provided to the defence weeks prior.
“This is a clear fishing expedition on the part of the defence to bolster their case in the public domain,” SOCU stated, arguing that Brutus’ legal team was seeking “cheap publicity.”
SOCU maintained that the defence cannot dictate the prosecution’s investigative process by demanding statements from individuals of their choosing.
SOCU further refuted claims that the reduction in Brutus’ reporting conditions was linked to the disclosure request. The unit clarified that the court eased the reporting requirements after an oral application by counsel for another accused, Asif Zafarali, citing the frequency of his court appearances. Brutus’ legal team, SOCU said, merely followed suit.
The prosecution reaffirmed its commitment to disclosing all relevant evidence, and accused Brutus’ legal team of consistently falling short of ethical legal standards.
Brutus has been embroiled in legal issues since July 2024, when an internal audit uncovered alleged financial irregularities. By October, he was formally charged with multiple offences, including money laundering, obtaining money by false pretences, misconduct in public office, and larceny by a public official. His wife, Aulder Brutus, and Police Sergeant Kevin George, were also charged in connection with the case, along with Sergeant Latoya Brummel and businessman Corwin Nicholson.