The trial of former Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus was adjourned to November 11 yesterday after the prosecution told the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court that other prosecutors attached to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) were overseas for training.
Prosecutor Darin Chan gave the explanation after the defence argued that another SOCU prosecutor could have taken over the matter to avoid further delays. Chan told Magistrate Faith McGusty that the prosecution had six or seven witnesses left to call and expected their testimony to be brief.
Attorney Yuborn Allicock, who represents Brutus, said the defence had sent the court a letter containing recommendations it hoped the magistrate would consider. He also asked that Brutus’ bail conditions be varied to give him greater freedom of movement, arguing that his client had borne the consequences of repeated delays.
Magistrate McGusty said she would leave the conditions in place and questioned why the application was being made as the trial neared its end.
Brutus faces a series of charges arising from a SOCU investigation into the alleged handling of police funds during his tenure in the Guyana Police Force. The charges include allegations of fraud, money laundering and misconduct in public office.
Stabroek News reported that Brutus, then acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, was granted $6.2 million bail in October 2024 after appearing before Magistrate McGusty on 30 indictable charges. Ten of those counts were brought jointly against Brutus, his driver, Sergeant Kevin George, and businessman Asaif Zafarali.
Further charges followed in November 2024. Stabroek News reported that among them were misconduct allegations that Brutus instructed a police finance officer to make seven Bank of Guyana cheques payable for clothing, accessories and other items for the Force, knowing the goods had not been supplied.
Brutus’ wife, Adonika Aulder, was separately charged with two counts of money laundering involving a total of $473 million. Stabroek News reported that prosecutors alleged she deposited $293 million into one Republic Bank account linked to her businesses and $180 million into another between December 2023 and July 2024. She was granted $500,000 bail on each count and ordered to surrender her passport.
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