Ali Thameem
A criminal court judge has sentenced Bassam Adheel Jaleel, former FAM president, to four years of imprisonment.
Returning the verdict this afternoon on one of multiple charges of Bassam’s financial malpractice, the judge, Ismail Shafeeu, ordered the maximum possible punishment.
The proceedings were in connection with a transaction of USD 10,000 (equivalent to MVR 154,200) from a FIFA grant made in 2018, which was later transferred to Bassam’s personal account while he was serving as FAM President. The Prosecutor General’s Office pressed charges against him on January 31, 2024.
The judge stated that Bassam claimed the money was part of his allowance. But the documents provided by the PGO had proven otherwise, that Bassam had previously received the allowance in question. Documents also showed the paper trail of the transactions, and Bassam himself had admitted in court that the money did enter his bank account.
Prosecution had said while the evidence confirms that the funds given by FIFA to FAM was to be spent on FAM’s activities, the evidence points to that Bassam used said funds for personal matters.
Throughout the proceedings, Bassam repeatedly claimed that the funds was for Dollar sales. However, the equivalent amount in Maldivian Rufiyaa did not enter back into the FAM’s bank accounts. Prosecution had argued that therefore it cannot be seen as a case of Dollar sales.
Both the prosecution and the defense had pleaded adjustments to the primary punishment for the case, which originally was a nineteen-month prison sentence. Prosecution had argued for the maximum possible punishment citing that Bassam’s criminal activities took place while he was holding the highest position in the country’s football administration. The defense argued that Bassam’s punishment has to be minimized because prior to this case, the defendant had no criminal history.
The judge granted Bassam an opportunity to make a statement, which he declined.
Bassam also has an additional case of money laundering and corruption against him, also involving FAM funds. The trial for these charges are being held separately.
