Court Orders Bassam to Relinquish Apartments to Police

The former President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), Bassam Adil Jaleel, has been ordered by the court to surrender two apartments he purchased on Amin Avenue in Hulhumale’ to the Maldives Police Service (MPS).

The MPS submitted the case to the Prosecutor General’s Office last month, alleging that Bassam misappropriated funds intended as aid from FIFA for Maldivian football clubs during the COVID-19 pandemic to finance the apartment acquisitions.

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In a media statement, the MPS confirmed that the court has mandated Bassam to vacate the two apartments by Sunday. Efforts are currently underway to place the properties under police custody.

FIFA allocated USD 1.9 million in loans to the FAM to support football clubs facing financial difficulties due to the pandemic. The MPS has charged Bassam and three others with misappropriating USD 1 million from the loan for the purchase of the flats. Those charged alongside him include the owner of Amin Avenue, Amin Construction, as well as FAM finance head Mohamed Agil and Hassan Waheed.

Police allege that Bassam used FAM funds amounting to USD 200,789.80 to acquire the two apartments. It is also notable that FIFA previously suspended Bassam for nine months due to allegations of fund misuse.