Paid for an apartment before receiving FIFA funds: Bassam

Former President of Football Association of Maldives (FAM) Bassam Adeel Jaleel has stated that he paid to purchase an apartment prior to FIFA having sent to FAM the Covid-19 relief loan funds to disburse as support to clubs.

Bassam, who is currently serving a nine year sentence for corruption and money laundering, is charged with further cases of corruption and money laundering related to the misappropriation of FIFA funds to FAM of USD 1.2 million (approximately MVR 19 million). 

The State accuses Bassam of using these funds to purchase two penthouse apartments at Amin Avenue. 

In today's hearing, Bassam gave testimony as his own defence witness. In his testimony, Bassam stated that he had attempted to buy an apartment from Amin Avenue and had applied for a loan from Bank of Ceylon. 

However, he did not receive this loan and so, had paid for the apartment with money he had received from a private individual, he said. He claimed that this payment was made in 2019, before FAM had  received the covid relief loan funds from FIFA. 

The State asked Bassam how he had made this payment, which Bassam refused to respond to, stating he will exercise his right to remain silent so as not to incriminate the private individual. 

Bassam also said in his testimony that FAM is fully audited through an auditor approved by the congress. Further, funds sent from FIFA are audited by FAM, and by AFC, he noted. 

Bassam said that he was not aware that any of these audits had raised concerns of money unreceived, or missing. Nor had any investigative agencies highlighted this, or questioned him about it, he said. 

He said that FIFA had suspended him after initiating probes into financial complaints, but with the investigation not finding any issues, his suspension had later been lifted, Bassam said. He further pointed out that, even at present, he is an elected member of the AFC Executive Committee. 

Bassam went on to say that FAM only makes budgeted expenses. This, he said, is passed through congress and conducted under the oversight of the General Secretary. He was not involved in the day to day running of FAM, he said. 

After Bassam's testimony, the State submitted evidence to establish Bassam's wrongful intent.

As per the Evidence Act, evidence showing conviction in a related crime can be submitted to establish wrongful intent. Hence, the State submitted the verdict of the previous money laundering and corruption case against Bassam as evidence. 

Testimonies of two additional prosecution witnesses were taken in today's hearing. The court also heard testimony from defence witness, FAM's Maintenance Officer Hassan Waheed, who is also charged in this case. This marks the end of witness testimonies in this case.

The next hearing will see closing statements from the defence and prosecution. This hearing is planned to be scheduled before the end of December, and will be followed by the verdict. 

Alongside Bassam and Hassan Waheed, Amin Construction and former FAM Finance Head Mohamed Ageel face charges of aiding money laundering. 

Bassam has said that the two penthouses he is accused of purchasing through FAM funds do not belong to him. He claims that no such 'real estate properties' are in his name. 

Bassam was previously residing in an apartment which had been expanded through joining the two penthouses. He was ordered to handover the apartment to Police under a court order as he is accused of purchasing the apartments with FAM funds. 

The apartment was handed over to police in compliance with the court order in October last year. Bassam later appealed the Criminal Court order to hand over the apartments at the High Court, which rejected the case.