
Amin Construction, staff charged over football body graft
The charges were announced by the Prosecutor General's Office on Sunday, marking a significant step forward in the case that has drawn widespread attention.
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In the ongoing investigation into financial misconduct within the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), Amin Construction and two senior FAM employees have been charged with allegedly embezzling significant sums of money, misappropriating foreign aid, and laundering funds.
The charges were announced by the Prosecutor General's Office on Tuesday.
The charges involve multiple parties, including Mohamed Ageel, a senior FAM employee, and Hassan Waheed, another high-ranking official at FAM.
In addition to these individuals, Amin Construction, a company closely linked to the former FAM president, Bassam Adeel Jaleel, is also facing legal action.
The three accused are alleged to have facilitated the misuse of FAM funds and the laundering of foreign aid dollars intended for the development of Maldivian football.
Mohamed Ageel – Head of FAM Accounts Department
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Charge: Aiding and abetting money laundering
Ageel is accused of preparing a cheque for Amin Construction from the FAM account to purchase an apartment in Amin Avenue on behalf of Bassam Adeel Jaleel, the former president of FAM.
The cheque, valued at MVR 15.4 million, was issued before FAM had even received the equivalent amount in MVR from the original foreign aid funds.
Ageel is said to have facilitated the purchase of the apartment using FAM’s money, effectively laundering funds for Bassem’s personal benefit.
Hassan Waheed – Senior FAM Official
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Charge: Aiding and abetting money laundering.
Waheed is implicated in arranging payments through FAM’s accounts that benefited Amin Construction.
On January 19, 2021, he orchestrated the transfer of $100,000 to Checkmark Company and another $100,000 to Pro Synergy Medical Systems, both intended for the acquisition of the Amin Avenue apartment.
Waheed also directed the Bank of Ceylon to deposit the proceeds from these transactions into Amin Construction’s account, which further contributed to the laundering scheme and allowed the misappropriation of funds intended for football development.
Amin Construction
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Charge: Aiding and abetting money laundering
Amin Construction is accused of receiving and facilitating illicit payments.
On April 8, 2021, Bassam Adeel Jaleel, the former FAM president, issued a cheque from FAM’s account to Amin Construction for the purchase of the apartment in Amin Avenue. This cheque was issued after FIFA deposited $1.9 million into FAM’s account.
Amin Construction allegedly collaborated in this money laundering operation by preparing false documents and cash vouchers to make the transaction appear legitimate.
The charges highlight a sophisticated scheme that allegedly exploited FAM’s financial accounts and foreign aid resources.
Bassam Adeel Jaleel, who served as the president of FAM since 2016, is also facing multiple charges, including two counts of fraud and two counts of money laundering.
The former president is accused of using his position to enrich himself and others involved in the scheme, with the goal of acquiring high-value real estate at the expense of the Football Association.
As part of the legal proceedings, the lawsuit seeks to recover $1 million in damages from Amin Construction for the financial misconduct.
Additionally, authorities have requested the state to seize two apartments in Amin Avenue, where Bassam Adeel Jaleel and other individuals allegedly lived, as part of the broader effort to recover misappropriated funds.