Ex-FAM President Bassam Jaleel Gets 4-Year Prison Term for Corruption

The Criminal Court of Maldives has sentenced former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Bassam Adeel Jaleel to four years in prison after finding him guilty of corruption in connection with the misuse of funds provided by FIFA.

The verdict, delivered by Judge Ismail Shafeeu, relates to an incident in 2018 when Bassam deposited USD 10,000 funds allocated to FAM by FIFA into his personal bank account under the pretext of conducting a currency exchange. Investigators found that he failed to return the equivalent amount in Maldivian Rufiyaa and falsified documents to make it appear as though the exchange had been completed.

The Prosecutor General’s Office charged Bassam with three offenses: one count of corruption and two counts of money laundering. The four-year sentence applies specifically to the corruption charge. The Criminal Court is expected to deliver verdicts on the remaining money laundering charges in a separate ruling.

Judge Shafeeu noted that while the minimum sentence under the law for corruption of this nature is one year and seven months, the court imposed a longer sentence after considering evidence of significant funds in Bassam’s accounts that could not be explained by his official income.

The case stems from a broader investigation launched in October 2023, during which the Prosecutor General’s Office and law enforcement authorities uncovered multiple irregularities within FAM’s financial management. Among the findings were allegations that approximately USD 1 million from a USD 1.9 million FIFA loan intended to support Maldivian football clubs during the COVID-19 pandemic had been diverted for the purchase of luxury apartments in Hulhumalé.

Bassam, who served as FAM president from 2016 until his suspension by FIFA’s Ethics Committee in June 2024, has denied all allegations of wrongdoing. He retains the right to appeal the verdict to the High Court.

The verdict marks a significant development in one of the country’s most high-profile corruption cases in the sports sector, as authorities continue broader investigations into financial misconduct within the nation’s football administration.