In a significant development, authorities have taken an unprecedented step by seizing property linked to allegations of corruption. At the end of September, a court ordered the handover of two penthouses belonging to Bassam at Amin Avenue to the Maldives Police Services. Initially set for the end of September, the handover date was extended until October 8, 2024, at the request of Mr. Bassam. As of now, the apartments are fully transferred to the police, marking a historic ruling in the fight against corruption.
This case raises important questions: Will the same procedure be applied universally, or is this act a reflection of Bassam's lack of political power and current affiliation with the government?
Bassam, the former president of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), has been accused of misappropriating funds provided by FIFA as an aid to local clubs during the pandemic. Of the $1.9 million loan granted by FIFA for disbursing to football clubs, $1 million was reportedly siphoned off. Bassam allegedly utilized over MVR 3 million from FAM funds to acquire the two penthouses at Amin Avenue.
Payments to Amin Construction, the project developer, were made in three installments. Investigators uncovered a fraudulent paper trail that suggested an equivalent amount of Maldivian Rufiyaa had been transferred to FAM’s bank account, intended to obscure the embezzled USD 1 million.
Currently, Bassam is under investigation for multiple counts of embezzlement and money laundering. The Police have approached the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) for charges against Bassam and others implicated in the case, while he faces additional corruption-related charges connected to FAM.
This situation prompts broader inquiries into the legal landscape surrounding corruption in the Maldives. With numerous high-profile corruption cases involving senior officials still in court, will this approach become a standard procedure applied to all, or will it remain an isolated incident? The outcome of this case could set important precedents for future actions against corruption within the country