October 23, 2024 – Georgetown, Guyana Fizal Karimbaksh, embattled head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), finds himself in hot water following an explosive report by Big Smith News Watch. The report claims Karimbaksh allegedly contributed 25% of the funds used by Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus to purchase a $20 million property in Schoonord, raising serious questions about ethics, conflicts of interest, and transparency within the law enforcement community.
In a swift and defensive response, Karimbaksh lashed out at the media outlet, branding the article “egregious, patently false, and libelous.” However, rather than providing substantive clarifications or addressing the underlying allegations, Karimbaksh’s statement turned into a scathing personal attack on journalist Leroy Smith and Calvin Brutus. Karimbaksh accused Smith of being a “hired gun” for Brutus, insinuating that the article is part of a campaign to undermine ongoing investigations against Brutus.
Despite Karimbaksh’s fiery rebuttal, he notably failed to refute the core claims in the report. Brutus has already confirmed that Karimbaksh gifted him and his wife a significant monetary contribution at their wedding in 2023, compounding the ethical concerns surrounding the property purchase. Karimbaksh’s response also conspicuously sidesteps critical allegations about SOCU’s mishandling of evidence and the selective exclusion of statements in files submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Brutus’s legal team, in their own correspondence with the DPP, allege that SOCU has violated their client’s constitutional rights by manipulating evidence to skew the investigation. If true, these claims could have far-reaching implications, casting doubt on the integrity of SOCU’s operations.
If SOCU is to retain any credibility, Karimbaksh must provide transparent, evidence-based responses to the allegations against him. A failure to do so will only further tarnish the reputation of the unit tasked with upholding justice.
As the legal and ethical storm intensifies, one thing remains clear: the people of Guyana deserve answers — not lawsuits, threats, or deflections. According to one legal scholar who wished to remain anonymous, “The truth must come out, no matter where it leads.”
