Bassam Adeel Jaleel, who received a 32-year prison sentence for corruption and money laundering while serving as president of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), has been returned to Maafushi Prison less than 24 hours after his transfer home.

Bassam, found guilty of four corruption-related offenses, was placed under home confinement on Monday afternoon.

The choice ignited extensive public backlash.

Aminath Yusreen Ahmed, the Maldives Correctional Service spokesperson, informed Sun on Tuesday morning that Bassam was temporarily sent home based on his doctors' recommendation following a surgery.

She emphasized that the Correctional Service had adhered to standard procedures in reaching the decision.

Yusreen mentioned that Bassam has been transferred back to Maafushi Prison after coordinating his post-surgery care at that location.

On October 22, 2023, a special investigation into the FAM was initiated by the police under the directive of then-prosecutor general Hussain Shameem.

This inquiry revealed several instances of corruption, such as in 2021, when Bassam misappropriated USD 1 million from a USD 1.9 million loan given by FIFA to allocate funds to football clubs during the Covid-19 pandemic, using it to buy luxury apartments in Hulhumale’.

Bassam received a four-year sentence for embezzling FAM's funds, five years for money laundering, and 23 years for misappropriating relief aid meant for clubs from FIFA during the pandemic.