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Brutus refutes claims of attempting to leave Guyana
—Home Affairs Ministry said he was sent back to GT from Lethem
Kaieteur News- Embattled Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus has denied claims made by the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding an alleged attempt to leave Guyana for Brazil.
On Thursday, the ministry issued a statement stating that Brutus had been intercepted by law enforcement officers on Monday, December 16, while attempting to depart Guyana through Lethem, Region 9. According to the statement a vehicle with Brazilian registration, carrying a driver and one passenger, was approaching the Takutu Bridge when it was stopped by the police. “Upon inspection, the passenger of the vehicle was identified as Mr. Calvin Brutus, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) (ag) who is currently on administrative leave. Mr. Brutus is currently under a court order prohibiting him from leaving the jurisdiction, as he faces criminal charges stemming from investigations into alleged financial crimes,” the ministry said.
Embattled Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus
The ministry’s release further stated that Brutus was informed by police that he could not leave the country and subsequently returned to Ogle from Lethem on a flight later that day.
In response, Brutus’s Lawyer, Eusi Anderson, in a statement refuted the ministry’s release describing it as “fictions of an overstimulated imagination.” Anderson insisted that the ministry should provide evidence to support its allegations. He pointed out that two days prior to the alleged attempt to flee, Brutus had appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Anderson noted that the state had failed to inform the magistrate about Brutus’s supposed attempt to leave the country during that appearance. He emphasised that the magistrate, who oversees Brutus’s passport and bail conditions, is in a better position than the public or social media to evaluate Brutus’s conduct and determine whether his bail conditions should be altered. “Instead of complaining to the authority, the ministry of Home Affairs, take their complaint to the Court of pubic opinion and social media,” the statement said.
Anderson also raised concerns about the logistics of the alleged escape attempt. He explained that to approach the Takutu Bridge, any traveller must pass through two checkpoints on the Guyana side: the Guyana Immigration and Customs Office and a second checkpoint manned by police officers. Anderson questioned how Brutus could have been intercepted on his approach to the bridge if he had already cleared both checkpoints with valid travel documents. He further questioned why Brutus would choose the official border crossing when the Guyana-Brazil border is known to be porous during the dry season, and travellers could potentially cross the border at locations without immigration or police oversight. “If indeed Mr Brutus…was truly attempting to flee, why would he choose the official Guyana checkpoints on the Takatu Bridge when, at this time of the dry-season, the borders are porous and he could simply walk over in the ankle-deep water where there isn’t a Guyana Immigration or Police Office in sight?” Anderson questioned.
That car that the Ministry of Home Affairs claimed Brutus was in
Anderson also drew attention to the timing of the incident, which coincided with the swearing-in of a new Commissioner of Police and Deputies who may supersede Brutus in rank.
In his statement, Anderson demanded that the Ministry of Home Affairs provide the following evidence: the name of the officer who allegedly intercepted Brutus, records of the travel documents he used to pass through the first checkpoint, and footage of the supposed violation of Brutus’s bail conditions. He also called for the police officers trailing Brutus to release photographs and video evidence to support the ministry’s account of events. Anderson further stated that Brutus demands a public apology and retraction of the ministry’s statement within 48 hours, by December 21, 2024.
(Brutus refutes claims of attempting to leave Guyana)
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