Bassam, currently serving a nine-year prison sentence, gets additional 23 years

Criminal Court, on Monday, has sentenced former president of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Bassam Adeel Jaleel, who is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence for corruption and money laundering, for 23 years in prison on additional charges related to corruption and money laundering.

Bassam was convicted on corruption and money laundering charges over the embezzlement of USD 1.2 million (over MVR 18 million) issued to FAM by FIFA, and its misuse, on Sunday. According to the prosecution,  the USD 1.2 million consisted of funds provided by FAM as a “COVID-19 Relief Loan” intended to support football clubs experiencing financial difficulties due to the pandemic. Bassam had allegedly used these funds to purchase two penthouses from Amin Construction.

Criminal Court sentenced him to 23 years in prison in connection with the charges on Tuesday: 15 years for money laundering and eight years for corruption.

However, Amin Construction was acquitted of criminal charges in the case.

According to the ruling delivered by Judge Mohamed Misbah on Sunday, the funds were transferred out of FAM’s account under the pretense of having it exchanged for Maldivian Rufiyaa. Although a cheque representing the exchanged funds was later submitted to FAM, it was found to be invalid, meaning the money never actually returned to the account.

As such, Judge Misbah found Bassam guilty of corruption over the embezzlement of FAM funds under the pretense of having it exchanged for Maldivian Rufiyaa and trying to conceal the origin of the funds embezzled from the Association.

Notably, in this case, Bassam had argued the funds in question were FIFA’s money, and therefore only FIFA has the authority to investigate or authorize proceedings. His lawyers maintain that local authorities cannot intervene in matters governed by FIFA statutes.  

The Criminal Court rejected the defense in November, after which Bassam appealed the decision to the High Court, which was thrown out by the appellate court.

Bassam is currently in prison serving a nine-year prison sentence in two separate cases: four years for corruption and five years for money laundering.

The convictions stem from Bassam’s deposit of USD 10,000, transferred from FIFA to FAM’s account at Bank of Ceylon, into his personal account between July and August 2018. He had claimed the funds were exchanged for Maldivian Rufiyaa, but failed to return the equivalent amount. Investigators later uncovered a fabricated paper trail suggesting the exchange had occurred.