Bassam said exchanged dollars did not enter FAM account: Jawaz

Former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) General Secretary Hussain Jawaz has testified that former FAM President Bassam Adeel Jaleel admitted that MVR obtained from exchanged dollars, although acquired in bulk, had not been deposited into the association’s account.

Bassam, who has already been sentenced to nine years in prison this year for corruption and money laundering, faces additional charges of embezzlement and money laundering. These charges stem from the alleged misappropriation of USD 1.2 million (approximately MVR 19 million) sent by FIFA to the FAM.

Bassam was charged with depositing USD 1 million to AMIN Construction, with two Amin Avenue apartments having been purchased by Bassam. The testimony stage is currently ongoing.

During today's Criminal Court hearing, Jawaz, who has close ties with Bassam, stated while giving his testimony at trial that FIFA had sent FAM USD 1 million as a Covid-19 relief loan. Jawaz stated that Bassam had given the funds to clubs.

Jawaz said that he had signed the check to deposit the USD 1 million to Amin Construction for the purposes of exchanging the dollars. As per Jawaz, as that was a transaction to exchange dollars, he had questioned Bassam and FAM's former Head of Finance Mohamed Ageel.

Bassam and Ageel stated the dollar that was changed to Rufiyaa was received as bulk funds, said Jawaz. When both of them were questioned as to whether the funds were deposited into the account, they stated that it had not been deposited, said Jawaz. He also said that he resigned two days afterwards.

The prosecution had charged Ageel, AMIN Construction and Hassan Waheed (M. Hirinaidhoo) with aiding the act of money laundering. 

Jawaz has appeared in the Criminal Court in the past as a state witness in the embezzlement and money laundering case against Bassam. He stated that all financial transactions at FAM, including foreign funds in US dollars and local government support in Maldivian Rufiyaa, were handled under Bassam’s direction via the FAM finance department.

He added that since 2016, all payments, including salaries and expenses, had been made in MVR after converting any foreign currency received.