Officers of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) have entered the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) godown located in the national football stadium, in connection with an ongoing probe.

Responding to a question by RaajjeMV, a media official at MPS revealed that the raid was conducted in connection with a case being investigated by the police Economic Crime Department.

The official added that it was a court-ordered raid.

The police institution is currently investigating corruption within the FAM house, and it is a major issue presently under investigation.

In accordance with the part of the investigation that has been wrapped up so far, the trial of FAM President Bassam Adeel Jaleel has commenced and is proceeding.

It is currently in the preliminary stage.

Two charges have been filed against Bassam in connection with the case, so far; money laundering and fraud. In January, charges were levied for fraud and money laundering, at the Criminal Court.

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) has also sought from the state to recover the USD 10,000 laundered in the case.

The state prosecutors have claimed at the court that the cases under investigation currently include a USD one million case and several other cases.

In April the PG Office alleged that Bassam 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.

The office 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 had raided FAM as well.

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.