Bassam seeks more time to hire a lawyer in the embezzlement case

Former President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), Bassam Adeel Jaleel, has told the court that he is still trying to appoint a defense lawyer to represent him against allegations of embezzling funds provided by FIFA.

Bassam is facing charges of money laundering and fraud for allegedly misappropriating FAM funds. The money is said to have been used to purchase a luxury apartment in Amin Avenue, owned by Amin Construction.

During a hearing held at the Criminal Court today, Bassam stated that he had made significant efforts to hire legal representation but had not yet been successful. As a result, he requested additional time to secure a lawyer.

Despite his request, the judge decided to proceed with the preliminary phase of the trial, citing the prolonged nature of the case. 

Another hearing has been scheduled for later this month, giving Bassam a 10-day window to appoint legal counsel. The judge emphasized that if he is unable to do so within this period, he will be required to respond to the charges regardless.

The charges relate to Bassam’s alleged involvement in signing an agreement to purchase an eight-bedroom, ten-bathroom penthouse spanning the 12th and 13th floors of Block A in Amin Avenue. Prosecutors claim he transferred funds from his dollar account through various companies to pay Amin Construction.

If convicted of fraud, Bassam could face a prison sentence of one year, seven months, and six days. A conviction for money laundering carries significantly harsher penalties, including a fine ranging from MVR 100,000 to MVR 1 million and imprisonment for 5 to 15 years.

In addition to the criminal charges, the prosecution is seeking MVR 1.2 million in damages, as well as a claim over the penthouse allegedly purchased with embezzled funds.

This case is separate from another ongoing trial at the Criminal Court involving similar fraud and money laundering allegations linked to FIFA funds. All witnesses in that case have already testified. A hearing to review the evidence is scheduled for the 23rd of this month, followed by the summary statement hearing on the 29th. A verdict hearing is expected to follow soon after.

Notably, the lawyers initially appointed by Bassam have withdrawn from the case, leaving him without representation at a critical stage in the proceedings.