Police raid FAM offices in PG-ordered graft probe
The FAM is in serious financial trouble.
Police on Sunday raided the headquarters of Football Association of Maldives (FAM) after the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) ordered an investigation into allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds by heads of Maldivian football's governing body.
Police are now searching the FAM headquarters, located near the Maafannu Stadium in capital Male on the orders. Police are also patrolling outside the building.
Police said they entered the office under a warrant to obtain evidence needed for a criminal investigation into the FAM's financial transactions.
The prosecutor general's office issued a statement on the case:
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The FAM is accused of using funds sent by international agencies dealing with Maldives, to commit crimes or facilitate crimes in violation of rules and regulations
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The police have been directed under the Prosecutor General's Act to investigate if there is a case of money laundering, theft, fraud or any other criminal offence and send it to the office for prosecution
The FAM is in serious financial trouble. Employees have not been paid their salaries and many have been deprived of large sums of money. At the same time, FAM officials are accused of corruption.
Several private parties have also filed cases in court against FAM for not receiving dollars in dollar exchange transactions. FIFA and international football bodies provide financial assistance to the FAM in dollars. The FAM has long been accused of selling dollars at high prices due to the dollar shortage in Maldives.
