Former President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), Bassam Adeel Jaleel, has been sentenced to an additional five years in prison after being found guilty of money laundering, a significantly lighter sentence than the 15 years sought by the state.

The case stems from Bassam’s actions while serving as FAM President since 2016. Investigations revealed that in 2018, he transferred USD 10,000 from funds disbursed by FIFA to FAM for official purposes. The money, deposited by FIFA into FAM’s account at the Bank of Ceylon, was instead transferred by Bassam into his personal account at the Bank of Maldives (BML) and subsequently laundered.

Earlier this month, on October 8, Bassam was sentenced to four years in prison for embezzling FAM funds. The latest ruling adds to his total prison term, bringing it to nine years.

The Criminal Court delivered its verdict on Thursday. Despite the Prosecutor General’s Office requesting a 15-year sentence and a fine of USD 50,000, the court imposed only five years. The decision came after Bassam pleaded for leniency, claiming the funds were part of his salary.

In its ruling, the court confirmed that evidence and Bassam’s own admission established that the funds transferred from FAM accounts were diverted into his personal account. The court determined that Bassam’s justification was inconsistent with the documentation, as the transaction was marked as “Sales of Dollars,” and the equivalent amount in Maldivian Rufiyaa was never returned to FAM.

The court further found that while Bassam was entitled to a monthly remuneration of USD 3,000, he had already received that amount through legitimate channels. A subsequent deposit of USD 10,000, more than triple his salary, was therefore ruled to be an act of misappropriation.

As a result, Bassam was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and ordered to repay MVR 154,000, the equivalent of the laundered funds, to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within six months.

The decision to issue a sentence significantly below the state’s request has drawn criticism, with many viewing it as a lenient outcome in a case involving the misuse of international sports funds. The conviction underscores continuing concerns about financial misconduct and accountability within Maldivian sports administration.