PG appeals $1 million ruling in Bassam case
Criminal Court had ruled that the $1 million cheque was not used to purchase two apartments at Amin Avenue but was part of a dollar exchange transaction.
The Prosecutor General’s Office has appealed a ruling by the Criminal Court relating to a $1 million transaction in the money laundering case involving former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) president Bassam Adeel Jaleel.
The Criminal Court had ruled that the $1 million cheque was not used to purchase two apartments at Amin Avenue but was part of a dollar exchange transaction between FAM and Amin Construction.
The prosecutor general’s office has challenged this finding at the High Court, stating that the court had determined the cheque to be a currency exchange transaction.
Prosecutors also said the court’s decision not to consider the testimony of several witnesses submitted to support the charges was unlawful.
In its appeal, the prosecutor general’s office requested the High Court to hear evidence from all witnesses presented in relation to the charge and to reassess the evidence in the case.
The prosecution also asked the court to review whether the transaction involving the $1 million cheque constituted money laundering and to direct the lower court to reconsider the matter.
The office noted that the appeal does not affect the conviction already secured against Bassam on the charge of money laundering.
The prosecutor general’s office has also appealed against the Criminal Court’s decision to dismiss a charge of aiding and abetting money laundering against Amin Construction in connection with the same transaction.
