Former Maldives Football Association President Gets Additional 23-Year Sentence

Bassam Adeel Jaleel, the former president of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), has been sentenced to an additional 23 years in prison on charges of corruption and money laundering. The Criminal Court delivered the verdict on Monday, adding to the nine-year prison sentence he is already serving for similar offenses. The new charges stem from the embezzlement of USD 1.2 million (over MVR 18 million) issued to FAM by FIFA as part of a COVID-19 relief loan intended to support struggling football clubs. Bassam allegedly used these funds to purchase two penthouses from Amin Construction. Judge Mohamed Misbah ruled that Bassam attempted to conceal the origin of the embezzled funds by claiming they were exchanged for Maldivian Rufiyaa. Despite Bassam's defense that FIFA had jurisdiction over the matter, the Criminal Court rejected the argument, leading to his conviction. The court acquitted Amin Construction of criminal charges in the case. Bassam is currently serving sentences for other corruption and money laundering cases.