Former President of Football Association of Maldives (FAM) Bassam Adeel Jaleel, who is serving a prison sentence after being convicted of corruption, has been returned back to prison after a short transfer yesterday to house arrest on medical grounds.
An official from Maldives Correctional Service said that Bassam had been temporarily shifted to house arrest based on a doctor's written advice to hold him in a dust-free environment following a surgery. They confirmed that this was done in accordance with regulations.
Once Corrections had made necessary arrangements to hold Bassam in prison under the advised arrangements, he was transferred back to prison, the official said.
A senior government official told Mihaaru News last night that Bassam had undergone a surgery on his nose. His doctor had advised that he be kept in a dust-free environment during the recovery period. Based on this, Corrections had decided to temporarily shift him to house arrest.
Bassam's transfer to house arrest gave rise to heavy public criticism.
Criminal Court sentenced Bassam to 32 years in prison following his convictions in four charges for misappropriating USD 1.2 million sent from FIFA to FAM and an additional USD 10,000, and for money laundering. He was first sentenced to prison following his initial conviction in October last year.
Bassam has appealed the sentence in High Court.
