ACC seeks money laundering charges against Bassam
Bassam is currently serving a combined prison sentence of 32 years following convictions in separate cases involving the Football Association of Maldives.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has submitted a case to the Prosecutor General’s Office seeking money laundering charges against former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Bassam Adeel Jaleel in connection with the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal.
In a statement issued on Monday, the ACC said a joint investigation conducted by the commission and the Maldives Police Service found that funds owed to the state from the lease of islands and lagoons for tourism development were laundered through a network involving SOF Private Limited.
According to the ACC, investigators found that US$29,000 was deposited into Bassam’s personal bank account through SOF Private Limited, with the transaction allegedly facilitated by former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb.
“The investigation noted that these funds were spent by Bassam Adeel Jaleel for his personal use,” the ACC said.
The commission further stated that Bassam had been involved in the process of leasing islands and lagoons through MMPRC and had signed several lease agreements as a witness on behalf of the corporation.
Based on the findings, the ACC has requested that Bassam be charged under Section 53(a) of the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act.
The commission confirmed that the case was formally submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office on Monday.
Bassam is currently serving a combined prison sentence of 32 years following convictions in separate cases involving the Football Association of Maldives.
The Criminal Court found him guilty of embezzling US$1.2 million provided to FAM by FIFA, misappropriating an additional US$10,000, and laundering funds connected to those transactions. The convictions relate to four separate charges.
As part of those investigations, police also seized two apartments at Amin Avenue that authorities allege were purchased using embezzled funds.
The MMPRC corruption case, which centres on the misappropriation of revenue generated from tourism lease agreements, remains one of the largest corruption investigations conducted in the Maldives.
