Former FAM president Bassam Adeel Jaleel files High Court appeal over 23‑year conviction

Former FAM president Bassam Adeel Jaleel has appealed his 23‑year sentence in two cases.

Bassam, who is already serving a nine‑year sentence, received an additional 23 years for embezzling money sent by FIFA to the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) as a COVID‑19 relief loan for local clubs.

The Criminal Court found that Bassam used the USD 1.2 million relief loan to purchase two penthouses in Amin Avenue. According to the case, the funds were withdrawn from the FAM and deposited with Amin Avenue for the apartment purchase.

He was sentenced to a total of 23 years, 15 years for money laundering and eight years for fraud‑related offences. Both cases have now been filed at the High Court, though the court has not yet decided whether to accept them.

Judge Mohamed Misbah, who presided over the case at the lower court, said the USD 1 million was taken out of the FAM under the guise of money exchange. He said that although the money was returned to the FAM, it was not a genuine cheque and it was not known whether the funds had been deposited into the association’s account.

The judge therefore ruled that Bassam had embezzled the money and attempted to deceive the FAM.

Bassam remains in custody. He had previously been sentenced to four years for embezzlement of FAM funds and five years for money laundering, a combined nine‑year term, before receiving the additional 23‑year sentence.