The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has stated that sufficient evidence exists to charge President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) Bassam Adeel Jaleel on financial fraud.
Speaking at a press conference, Prosecutor General (PG) Hussain Shameem revealed that funds sent by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to the FAM were used for purposes contrary to Maldivian laws and regulations. He identified Bassam as the primary suspect in connection with the violation. The PGO has amassed substantial information regarding the allegations and is actively working to build a case against Bassam and other leaders of the association, ensuring they have enough evidence for prosecution. He also said that information has been gathered through various channels, including data from the Monetary Authority of the Maldives (MMA) and significant progress has been made in the police investigation.
Additionally, Shameem said that the Maldives has established laws and regulations governing the use of funds received from foreign entities and officials in the FAM are accused of misusing the funds. He noted that a considerable sum of money has been expended in diverse ways, including trips abroad by FAM officials. He added that investigating the matter thoroughly is challenging due to irregular handling of some FAM documents, requiring additional time for scrutiny.
The incident marks the most substantial fraud allegation against the FAM, leading to a raid on the FAM office in October.