Bassam: Unsuccessful despite tremendous efforts to appoint a lawyer

Bassam Adeel Jaleel, the embattled former president of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) who stands accused of buying two Amin Avenue apartment from funds embezzled from the Association, states he has so far been unsuccessful in appointing a defense attorney despite tremendous efforts.

He made the remark during a hearing on charges of embezzlement and money laundering.  

During Tuesday’s hearing, Bassam requested additional time to appoint a lawyer. However, as the case has already been significantly delayed, the court decided to go ahead with the proceedings. In this regard, a preliminary process in the case commenced on Tuesday.

The hearing was concluded after granting Bassam an additional 10 days to appoint a lawyer. The informed that hearings will proceed even if Bassam fails to appoint a lawyer within this period. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for end of this month. Bassam has been instructed to respond to the charges on that day.

Bassam was charged with embezzlement and money laundering in December over the alleged misuse of funds received by FAM from various sources, including the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), during his tenure. The funds were allegedly used for personal purposes, transferred to the accounts of then-FAM officials, and funneled into companies linked to them.

The embezzlement charge pertains to USD 1.2 million out of an USD 1.9 million loan provided by FIFA to disburse funds to football clubs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He had allegedly used the funds to purchase two apartments from Amin Avenue.

Bassam faces a one year, seven months and six-day prison sentence if convicted of the embezzlement.

The money laundering charge relates to funds equivalent to MVR 25 million that were embezzled from FAM’s USD account and transferred to various company accounts. The funds were used to pay for the purchase of two apartments—units A2105 and A2106, featuring eight rooms and ten bathrooms—located on the 12th and 13th floors of Amin Avenue Block A. Payments included the booking fee, commitment fee, and GST.

Notably, at Tuesday’s hearing, the state requested an order to protect the evidence with respect to the money laundering charge.

If the money laundering charge is proven, Bassam faces a five to 15 year prison sentence and a fine between MVR 100,000 and MVR 1 million.

Bassam has also been pressed with two additional charges over the FAM graft scandal. Hearings in the case are ongoing, for which Bassam has appointed a legal team.