Bassam refuses to leave cell ahead of hearing

Bassam Adeel Jaleel, the former President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) serving a nine year sentence for money laundering, refused to leave his prison cell today because he was wearing jail clothes and had been handcuffed, the Criminal Court said.

A hearing on additional fraud and money laundering charges, linked to the alleged embezzlement of USD 1.2 million (over MVR 18 million) in FIFA funds, was scheduled for 8:15 am but has been delayed.

Correctional Service told the court Bassam will be brought to the hearing by 11:00 am and therefore the hearing has not been cancelled.

Bassam’s lawyers previously argued that because the funds came from FIFA, the organisation’s permission would be required to investigate the case. They maintained that national authorities cannot proceed without FIFA’s consent. The judge, however, ruled that the case could continue.

The prosecution is also pursuing separate cases against other former FAM officials and Amin Construction Company. A penthouse purchased by Bassam from Amin Avenue in Hulhumale' has been seized by police since last year.