The Criminal Court has just ruled that additional charges of embezzlement and money laundering against the former President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), Bassam Adeel Jaleel, have been proven.

Bassam is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence for prior convictions of embezzlement and money laundering. These include a four-year sentence handed down in October on an embezzlement charge, and a five-year sentence for money laundering issued on October 30th.

In today's ruling, the court found Bassam guilty on two more counts. These charges pertain to the misappropriation of USD 1.2 million (approximately MVR 19 million) from a COVID-19 relief fund sent by FIFA to the FAM for distribution to local clubs.

The state’s prosecution alleged that Bassam utilized these funds to purchase two penthouses at Amin Avenue. According to the charges, the transaction was disguised as a currency exchange; funds were withdrawn from the FAM under the pretext of purchasing dollars, but were instead deposited to Amin Construction for the acquisition of the apartments.

Delivering the verdict, Criminal Court Judge Mohamed Misbah stated that there was no evidence to suggest that the Maldivian Rufiyaa equivalent of the funds withdrawn via cheque for the purported dollar exchange ever entered any of FAM's accounts. The judge further noted that while it was claimed that the cash for the apartments was provided to Bassam by a third party, such assertions were not credible.

Consequently, the court determined it had been proven that Bassam deliberately misrepresented the true nature of the funds to embezzle FAM’s money. The court concluded that since these actions were carried out with Bassam’s full knowledge and involvement, the charge of embezzlement was proven.

Furthermore, following the finding that he embezzled FAM funds, concealed their origin, and laundered the proceeds of the crime, the state’s charge of money laundering against Bassam was also proven.

Although Bassam has been found guilty on both counts, a separate hearing has been scheduled for a later date to determine his sentence.