Bassam transferred to house arrest on health grounds
The official said the transfer is temporary.
Former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Bassam Adeel Jaleel, who is serving a 32-year prison sentence over the misuse of FAM funds, has been transferred to house arrest.
A media official from the Maldives Correctional Service told Dhauru that Bassam was moved to house arrest following a recommendation from the Medical Board on health grounds.
The official said the transfer is temporary.
Bassam was previously transferred to house arrest on 16 March. However, he was returned to prison the following day after the decision drew public criticism.
Bassam is serving prison sentences arising from two cases involving funds received by FAM from FIFA.
In one case, Bassam was sentenced to nine years in prison over the transfer of $10,000 to his personal account from foreign currency funds provided to FAM by FIFA in 2018. The transaction took place on 26 August 2018.
In a separate case, Bassam was sentenced to 23 years in prison over the use of $1 million from a $1.9 million FIFA COVID-19 relief loan obtained by FAM.
The funds had been provided to address financial difficulties faced by football clubs in the Maldives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bassam was convicted over the use of part of the funds to purchase an apartment at Amin Avenue.
The two sentences amount to a total of 32 years in prison.
