Prosecution seeks 19-year prison sentence for Bassam

The prosecution has sought the longest prison sentence possible toward former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Bassam Adeel Jaleel after he was found guilty of two additional charges of fraud and money laundering over the misuse of funds sent by FIFA as Covid-19 relief.

Bassam, who is already serving a nine-year prison sentence for fraud and money laundering in earlier cases, was charged with embezzling USD 1.2 million (about MVR 19 million) provided by FIFA to FAM to support local football clubs during the pandemic.

Prosecutors alleged that the money was withdrawn from FAM accounts and used to purchase two penthouse apartments at Amin Avenue.

On Sunday, the presiding judge ruled that the two charges were proven against Bassam. And so, a hearing was held today in order give a verdict in the case.

During the hearing, prosecutors requested Bassam be given the harshest sentence possible since charges of fraud and money laundering were proven against him, along with him having committed fraud against funds that multiple youths had a stake in. The prosecution highlighted that his fraud regarding the funds had been detrimental to Maldivian football.

The basic punishment for this crime is imprisonment for one year and seven months. The prosecution requested the punishment be added onto with a sentence of four years. The proven fraud charges upon Bassam previously had also incurred a prison sentence of four years.

As money laundering charges have been proven against him, the punishment for the crime is a prison sentence ranging between five to 15 years. Prior to this, Bassam had been sentenced to five years in prison. However, the prosecution had requested today that he be given the longest possible punishment of a 15-year prison sentence.

The prosecution also requested Bassam pay a fine five times the defrauded amount of USD 1.2 million. Along with that, since the MVR 6 million he had used to pay for the apartment in 61 days was obtained via money laundering as was proven during trial, the prosecution requested that those funds be taken back as well.

However, Bassam's lawyers argued that there is no legal standing in increasing his punishment. They also requested that a part of the prison sentence be converted into a payable fine.

Bassam had responded to the prosecution stating that Maldivian football had taken a huge hit due to his fraud. Bassam had made a list of his achievements during his two terms as FAM President. Bassam also said that the yearly funds from FIFA for FAM had been given as such.

The Criminal Court will begin a hearing soon regarding Bassam's sentencing of the two charges.

Delivering the verdict, presiding judge Mohamed Misbah said the court was unable to determine that Maldivian rufiyaa from FAM accounts had directly entered the purchase transaction. However, he said evidence showed the apartment was bought with cash and that a third party had made payments on Bassam’s behalf.

The judge ruled that the trial had established deliberate deception over the origin of the funds and that the money had been embezzled with Bassam’s knowledge, thereby proving the charge of fraud.

He further ruled that Bassam had falsified the origin of the funds and laundered money obtained through criminal means, concluding that the prosecution had also proved the money laundering charge.

Misbah said Bassam had deposited more than MVR 6m over a 61-day period towards the purchase of the apartments. While such sums could result from grants, loans or business profits, the court found no evidence that Bassam had received legitimate income or financial assistance of that scale, nor did Bassam present any such documents.

“The responsibility lies with the defendant to prove the money used was lawfully obtained,” the judge said, adding that Bassam had failed to do so.