Deputy Police Commissioner's purported voice is
Guyana Deputy Police Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh claims an audio recording of an alleged bribe attempt is an AI-generated deepfake while activists insist it.
- Reported date
- Oct 28, 2026
- Target
- Deputy Police Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh
The exact incident date was not established. This entry is dated by its source report.
Guyana Deputy Police Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh has formally denied the authenticity of an audio recording that purportedly captures him offering a bribe to a rape accuser. His legal counsel asserts that the recording is a sophisticated AI-generated fabrication designed to falsely reproduce the official's voice.
What happened
The controversy centers on a Facebook post featuring an audio recording in which a man, alleged to be Deputy Police Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh, is heard offering a woman GY$5 million to settle a rape allegation. Karimbaksh, who serves as the head of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), has through his lawyer, Rizwaun Mohamed, vehemently rejected the recording as an authentic account of any conversation. The defense maintains that the material is AI-generated and falsely attributes statements to the Commissioner.
Conversely, social media activist Leroy Smith has publicly challenged the deepfake claim, asserting that the recording is genuine. Smith, who has been organizing protests calling for Karimbaksh’s removal from office, stands by the authenticity of the audio. He has also alleged that Karimbaksh improperly sought personal phone records from a telecommunications provider, Digicel.
In response to the dissemination of the recording, Karimbaksh’s legal team has threatened to initiate legal action against individuals or entities responsible for creating and publishing the material. The lawyer stated that they intend to pursue legal remedies to protect the Commissioner's reputation, pending a proper examination of the disputed audio. Meanwhile, the legal counsel has called for an impartial investigation into the underlying allegations of rape and threatening behavior, urging that the matter be handled without interference or prejudgment. The situation remains unresolved as the Police Service Commission, which holds the authority to discipline officers of this rank, is currently awaiting reconstitution following the National Assembly's annual recess.