Malé, Maldives – The Criminal Court has sentenced former President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), Bassam Adheel Jaleel, to four years in prison after finding him guilty of corruption and embezzlement of funds donated by FIFA to the association.

According to the prosecution, Bassam redirected USD 10,000 sent by FIFA in 2018 to his personal bank account, instead of depositing it into FAM’s account. State attorneys argued that evidence clearly showed the funds were used for his personal benefit.

During the trial, Bassam claimed that the money was transferred to his account to be exchanged into local currency. However, the prosecution established that FAM never received the equivalent amount in Maldivian rufiyaa, proving that the funds were misappropriated.

The Criminal Court found Bassam guilty of corruption and embezzlement but has yet to deliver a verdict on the separate money laundering charge filed in connection with the same case.

Authorities confirmed that this conviction is one of several corruption and embezzlement cases currently under investigation against the former FAM president.