A high-ranking law enforcement official who is before the court facing allegations of financial misconduct, claims he is being set up. The conspiracy involves politicians too, he says as he speaks of the idiomatic letting out of the cat in the bag. But the government, rather than quiver in its boots, is unmoved by this “blackmail”.
“He could let out cats, dogs, pigs, anything that he has, and he wants to let out. Let him let it out. I think it’s a form of blackmail. He’s hoping that…there (may) be fear in some quarters in the government that he could say something that’s compromising to us, and they would relent on ensuring that justice is served,” Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo said in response to embattled Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Calvin Brutus.
The Vice-President said that he will “deal” with what Brutus has to say at the appropriate time, but was quick to note that he, nor his government, is worried.
“You see us worried about this? We’re very calm. I don’t want to say much more,” Jagdeo said.
The Vice-President noted that the ACP will have a chance, like every other Guyanese, to defend himself in court.
“He would have a right in court to defend and present all the evidence that he has in an impartial process to exonerate himself if he’s innocent. He’d be treated fairly in court,” Jagdeo affirmed.
Just last night, cops surrounded the home of Brutus and his pregnant wife, Adonika Aulder at Young Street, Kingston with a search warrant. The swooping down of the SWAT team was like a scene out of a movie. But Brutus was not home. His apartment is within the confines of what could be described as the Police headquarters. The living apartment is a force-provided accommodation.
Today, Brutus was granted $6.2 million bail after facing 30 charges, including money laundering and misconduct in public office, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He must pay $500,000 for each of the six initial charges, with additional bail amounts covering various financial crimes, including $2 million for 20 official liability charges.
Brutus faces a total of 240 charges, with the remainder to be read later. His wife, his driver, Sergeant Kevin George, and another individual, Asif Zafarally, were also charged following a Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) investigation that uncovered monies totalling hundreds of millions of dollars. He is set to return to court on November 18.
