Bassam Adeel Jaleel, the former President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), who was imprisoned for embezzlement after using association funds to purchase an apartment at Amin Avenue, has been transferred to house arrest for an indefinite period.
Adhadhu understands that Bassam was temporarily moved to house arrest after authorities reviewed medical documents submitted on his behalf. However, the Maldives Correctional Service has not disclosed the exact duration of this transfer.
In March, Bassam was similarly moved to house arrest for medical reasons. However, following intense public criticism, he was returned to prison within 24 hours.
Bassam was charged with embezzlement and money laundering after using USD 1.2 million of FAM funds to pay for a penthouse apartment at Amin Avenue. The Criminal Court had previously sentenced him to prison and ordered a fine of MVR 44 million in connection with these cases.
He was sentenced to four years in prison for embezzlement and an additional five years for money laundering. His total combined prison sentence amounts to nine years.
In June, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) also requested the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office to press charges against Bassam in connection with the MMPRC scandal. The ACC stated that its investigation confirmed that USD 29,000 in embezzled funds had been deposited into Bassam’s personal account.
Furthermore, several other cases involving the alleged misappropriation of FAM funds by Bassam are currently ongoing in court.
