Former President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), Bassam Adeel Jaleel, is facing intense scrutiny following revelations by the police that he used $1 million from a FIFA loan to purchase two penthouses at Amin Avenue.
The $1.9 million FIFA loan, provided to support FAM, saw $1 million allocated by Jaleel for these luxury apartments. According to police, payments to Amin Construction, the contractor for the Amin Avenue building, were made in several instalments shortly after FAM received the funds on 14 April 2021.
It is alleged that Jaleel also used FAM money to buy a BMW car, fund lavish global trips, and acquire other luxury items. Additionally, it is alleged that he used FAM funds to open a salon and a restaurant in Hulhumale’ in his wife’s name, among other expenditures.
While Jaleel was reportedly enjoying FAM funds for personal use, staff at FAM went unpaid for months, and the association failed to settle payments for services received from other businesses.
Charges have been filed against Mohammed Ageel, the former head of FAM’s financial department; Hassan Waheed, a prominent FAM figure who later became chairman of Club Valencia; and Amin Construction, the building contractor.
Jaleel’s passport has been withheld since February while the Prosecutor General’s Office pursues fraud and money laundering charges. On 20 June, FIFA imposed a nine-month suspension on Jaleel from all football-related activities after the FIFA Investigative Chamber found he had misused his position for personal gain. FIFA has also appointed a normalising committee to oversee FAM, which reported no funds remaining in FAM accounts upon their takeover.