The Government is preparing for showdown at the High Court with Assistant police Commissioner Calvin Brutus, who has a filed a Constitutional motion against the Government, the Police Force and other agencies, as the probe into the allegations of money laundering against him widens.

Brutus is challenging being sent on leave to allow for the investigation to take place and is also challenging the investigation itself.

In response to the move by the Assistant Commissioner, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo this afternoon said that the government has no tolerance for corruption in the Police Force, and plans to respond to the action filed by Mr. Brutus.

The Vice President said based on the allegations against Mr. Brutus and the findings of the investigations against him, the Court action that he has filed might really not be in his best interest.

“We have no interest whatsoever in that, but if you did illegal things, you will face the consequences and from all that I have read, that a lot of wrong things and illegalities took place and so we will respond to the Constitutional motion in Court and since some charges were made, trust me, our affidavit to respond to those charges may not be beneficial to the particular individual because we will go into great details about what our findings were in the procurement system when he was heading the administration of the Police Force,” Mr. Jagdeo said.

The Financial Intelligence Unit’s submission to the Special Organised Crime Unit of the Guyana Police Force, triggered a widespread investigation into alleged money laundering and other financial crimes against the Assistant Commissioner.

The Vice President said a corrupt procurement scheme was uncovered in the Police Force

“The PPP will not tolerate corruption in the Police or anywhere else and when we find corruption in the Police Force or anywhere else, there would be no attempt to cover it up. So, if you believe that you have a special relationship with the Government and that we will pursuant to that relationship cover up your misdeeds, you have it wrong, you don’t know the PPP,” Jagdeo declared.

The Vice President said based on SOCU’s recommendations for charges to be filed based on its investigations against the Assistant Commisioner, the notion should be put to rest that the Government was trying to sway the investigations in another direction.

The Vice President, who appeared upset that the Government is being dragged to Court by Mr. Brutus, said that he has read with concern that the Policeman’s wedding was paid for by a businessman. He said Government has never sanctioned any policy where businessmen can pay for birthdays and weddings of Policemen or other public officials, describing such a practice as reprehensible.

In his reported statement to SOCU as part of the investigations, Mr. Brutus reportedly told the investigations that the Acting Commissioner of Police told him not to spend his money or gifts on the wedding, since he (the Acting Commissioner) will get some of his friends and contacts to cover the expenses. It is reported that more than $8.5 million was received from one businessman to cover the costs of the wedding.

Brutus came under the radar after allegedly depositing more than $45 million in cash to one of his bank accounts, claiming that the money had been received as wedding and Christmas gifts.

Related posts:

Brutus files Court action against Government, Acting Top Cop and SOCU over being sent on leave and SOCU probe against him SOCU recommends dozens of charges against Asst. Commissioner Brutus; Awaits DPP’s advice Government and Police tightlipped on Police corruption probe Asst. Commissioner Brutus slams Court action over Police promotions