State appeals acquittal of Amin Construction in FAM funds case
On 6 October, the Criminal Court acquitted Amin Construction in the case, while finding Bassam guilty.
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The Prosecutor General's Office has filed an appeal at the High Court against a Criminal Court ruling that acquitted Amin Construction of aiding and abetting money laundering in connection with funds belonging to the Football Association of Maldives (FAM).
The state has also sought an injunction to prevent the use of two apartments at Amin Avenue purchased by former FAM President Bassam Adeel Jaleel.
The charges against Amin Construction arose from allegations that funds provided to FAM by FIFA were misused to finance Bassam’s purchase of a penthouse at Amin Avenue.
On 6 October, the Criminal Court acquitted Amin Construction in the case, while finding Bassam guilty. In explaining its appeal, the PG Office said a review of the lower court’s decision showed that testimony from several state witnesses was not recorded. The office also stated that the court’s assessment of evidence did not align with established legal principles.
In its submission to the High Court, the PG Office requested the annulment of the Criminal Court’s verdict and an order for a retrial. It also sought an interlocutory injunction to halt the use of the two apartments at Amin Avenue, which had previously been subject to a court-ordered freeze during the investigation.
Criminal Court judge Mohamed Misbah ruled in favour of Amin Construction on the basis that there was evidence indicating the company had provided MVR 15.4 million in cash to FAM in exchange for the USD 1 million it received.
The state alleges that USD 1 million of FAM funds was paid to Amin Construction for the purchase of two apartments and that the equivalent amount in Maldivian rufiyaa was not returned to FAM. According to the prosecution, documentation was created to suggest such a transaction had taken place.
The USD 1 million formed part of a USD 1.9 million COVID-19 relief loan provided by FIFA to FAM to support football clubs during the pandemic.
Bassam and Amin Construction have maintained that payments for the apartments were completed before FAM received the FIFA loan.
