The Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) has alleged that President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), Bassam Adeel Jaleel had embezzled a hefty amount of money received by the association, for his own expenses.
Information shared by the PG Office indicates that the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) had provided USD 12.4 million to FAM between 2018 and October 2023, in aid.
The PG Office went on to reveal that FAM also acquired funds through the government, as well as by renting out fields.
PG Office has also alleged that when FIFA’s funds were deposited in USD, FAM had exchanged them for Maldivian Rufiyaa, without adhering to any rules and procedures and without maintaining a relevant record for the transactions.
During the investigation, it was found that a massive amount of money was transferred from FAM’s account, to the account of it’s president Bassam Adeel Jaleel. Although it was noted in the documents submitted to the bank that these were “sales of dollars”, none of the money exchanged in Maldivian Rufiyaa for the dollars, were deposited into FAM’s accounts. Financial transactions have confirmed that they funds were utilized by Bassam for personal use”.PG Office.
The office has revealed that Bassam purchased properties using FAM funds, made expenses for businesses registered under his name using FAM funds and even used the funds to take care of family expenses as well as travelling abroad.
Following these reports, officers of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) had raided FAM as well.
In January, charges were levied for fraud and money laundering, at the Criminal Court.
PG Office has revealed that they would continue to update the chargesheets at court as soon as the investigations wrap up.
It has also come to light that Bassam is also linked to the MMPRC money laundering case, which is also being probed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
According to the PG Office, the executive committee of FAM is responsible for all decisions, and they were not bothered when FAM’s funds were deposited to the personal accounts of its employees and did not examine the issue at all.
Bassam is vying for a third term at FAM. However, FIFA is probing a case linking Bassam to the embezzlement of USD one million issued as a loan by FIFA to FAM, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
FIFA had also obstructed FAM from holding its elections, because it failed to stick to the legal mandate in holding its last congress, and held it without reaching the quorum.
