The trial of Mohamed Ageel, former finance head of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), has commenced.
Ageel faces charges of aiding and abetting money laundering for Bassam Adeel Jaleel, the former FAM president, who is accused of embezzling funds and acquiring an apartment with the illicit money. Ageel has been granted the opportunity to seek legal representation.
The allegations stem from an investigation into FAM officials, who are suspected of embezzling funds from various sources and depositing foreign donations in US dollars into personal and company accounts.
Alongside Ageel, Hassan Waheed, who held multiple positions at FAM, has also been accused of facilitating money laundering. Subsequently, the state has also filed charges against Amin Construction in connection with this case.
While these cases were initially scheduled to be heard together, only the preliminary hearing for Ageel's case was held on Monday. During this hearing, Ageel was given the chance to secure legal counsel.
The trial judge announced that another hearing in Ageel's case will be scheduled for next month and instructed Ageel to secure a lawyer for this upcoming session. The judge also stated that the hearing would proceed even if Ageel failed to obtain legal representation.
The prosecution's case against Hassan Waheed could not proceed on Monday because the court was unable to send a summons to his lawyer, according to the judge. Hassan Waheed was present in court on Monday.
The case against Amin Construction Company has been postponed, though the court did not specify the reason for the delay.
FAM’s president Bassam Adeel Jaleel. (File Photo/Sun/Fayaz Moosa)
Ageel has been charged with aiding and abetting money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act. The Prosecutor General's Office (PG) previously stated that Ageel assisted Bassam in purchasing the Amin Avenue apartments and laundering money. This involved Bassam depositing USD 1 million from the FAM account to Amin Construction and fabricating a transaction, stamping and signing that FAM had received the MVR equivalent at the bank rate before the money was actually received, to disguise it as a dollar exchange.
Hassan Waheed also faces charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act, related to the same apartment.
Bassam has also been charged with embezzlement of FAM funds. The trial for some of the charges against Bassam has begun, and testimony has already been taken. If convicted, Bassam could face a lengthy prison sentence.
A hearing in Bassam's case scheduled for Monday was canceled due to his inability to attend due to illness. However, the trial judge indicated an attempt to hold another hearing this week.
Police allege that Bassam purchased two apartments using loans from the World Football Federation (FIFA), which were intended to help clubs overcome the financial crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic.