High Court bars transactions related to penthouses allegedly purchased by Bassam with FAM funds

High Court has issued an injunction prohibiting any transfer of ownership or transactions involving two penthouses allegedly purchased by former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) president Bassam Adeel Jaleel using funds embezzled from the association.

The injunction was granted during appeal proceedings in a case involving Amin Construction. The lower court had previously acquitted the company of allegations that it facilitated money laundering on behalf of Bassam, who is currently serving a 32-year prison sentence after being convicted on four separate charges. The High Court’s order seeks to preserve the status of the properties pending the outcome of the appeal.

The injunction was issued on Wednesday by a three-judge bench comprising Judge Mohamed Shaneez Abdulla, Judge Huzaifa Mohamed, and Judge Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, with the decision reached unanimously. The court stated that any transaction involving the penthouses at this stage could hinder the state's ability to obtain the legal remedies it is seeking through the appeal.

Notably, the injunction was issued without arguments from Amin Construction.

During the appeal proceedings, the state argued that the Criminal Court’s decision to exclude testimony from several key witnesses was inconsistent with established legal principles and judicial practice.

In the original trial, Criminal Court Judge Mohamed Misbah found that there was sufficient evidence to establish that USD 1.2 million issued by FIFA to the FAM, which was transferred to Amin Construction for conversion into Maldivian rufiyaa, was handed over in cash to FAM employee Hassan Waheed, a co-defendant in the case.

The judge emphasized that there was no evidence to substantiate the state's central argument that the funds were used to purchase the penthouses. He explained that the only link presented was that the outstanding amount for the penthouses matched the sum given to Amin Construction, noting that there was no proof showing the money was transferred to Amin Construction for the purpose of buying the penthouses.

Nevertheless, the judge observed that there was no evidence showing that the converted Maldivian Rufiyaa had entered any official FAM accounts. Citing that Bassam paid for the apartment in cash, the judge acknowledged that the claim the money was lent to him another individual was not credible.

Despite Amin Construction’s acquittal in the lower court, Bassam remains in prison following his conviction on charges brought in connection with the case.