FIFA suspends Bassam
Bassam, who is accused of embezzling funds received by FAM from several foreign agencies, was suspended by FIFA for a period of nine months.
FAM's President, Bassam Adeel Jaleel
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has suspended President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), Bassam Adeel Jaleel.
Bassam, who is accused of embezzling funds received by the house from several foreign agencies, was suspended by FIFA for a period of nine months.
At a time FIFA has suspended Bassam, he has been slapped with multiple charges and is currently being tried at court.
FIFA has also issued a statement announcing its decision to suspend Bassam.
According to the statement, the decision to suspend Bassam was reached by FIFA’s Ethics Committee, under Section 86 of FIFA’s Code of Ethics.
The decision follows an investigation conducted by FIFA into the FAM raids for corruption, money laundering and other crimes.
Officers of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) raided FAM under an order issued by the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office).
After the raid, officers confiscated some materials required for the investigation.
An investigation is also underway to find out whether Bassam, received any donations or benefits from another party, as the president of FAM.
It has also been decided that an investigation will be carried out to find out if Bassam misused the funds provided to FAM by multiple agencies.
FIFA has informed Bassam, who is serving a second term as president, that he will be banned from all football activities for a nine-month period.
The police institution is 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 Bassam is proceeding and 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.
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.
