Kaieteur News Reports | Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty is set to rule on an application that could significantly reduce the number of charges facing former Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus. The decision follows several developments in his ongoing court proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Brutus is currently facing a staggering 261 financial crime charges stemming from an investigation by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) into alleged financial misconduct within the Guyana Police Force. The charges include serious offenses such as misconduct in public office, larceny, and money laundering.
In addition to Brutus, several others have also been charged. These include Police Sergeant Latoya Brummel, businessman Corwin Nicholson, Brutus’ wife Adonika Aulder, his driver Kevin George, and businessman Asif Zafarally. All defendants are represented by a legal team that includes attorneys Yuborn Allicock, Eusi Anderson, Earl Daniels, and Dominic Bess.
Legal proceedings began in October 2024 when Brutus was initially charged with 30 offenses and granted bail set at $6.2 million. Following a substantial increase in charges to a total of 231 in November 2024, his bail was raised to $16.25 million. The accumulation of charges eventually led to the current total of 261 offenses.
Recently, the defense made two significant applications: a request for the charges to be tried summarily, rather than indictably, and an application to consolidate certain charges that stem from the same set of facts. These steps aim to streamline proceedings and potentially reduce the overall number of charges against Brutus.
On January 5, 2026, during courtroom proceedings, the defense formally requested the consolidation of several charges. Earlier in 2026, Magistrate McGusty ruled in favor of trying the charges summarily, allowing for quicker proceedings and lower penalties. However, the ruling on the consolidation of charges has been deferred, with further arguments set for January 22, 2026.
As this legal saga unfolds, all eyes will be on the January ruling, which could alter the landscape of Brutus’s defense significantly.
