The government has appealed a Criminal Court ruling that cleared Amin Construction of charges linked to a major financial scandal involving former Football Association of Maldives president Bassam Adeel Jaleel.
In a statement released this week, the Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed it has asked the High Court to overturn the lower court’s decision, arguing that key legal standards were not properly applied during the trial.
Prosecutor General Seeks Retrial
According to the PG Office, the Criminal Court prematurely concluded the case and declined to hear testimony from several witnesses presented by the state. Prosecutors contend that this refusal undermined the integrity of the proceedings and conflicted with established judicial principles.
As a result, the state is requesting the High Court to nullify the acquittal and send the case back to the Criminal Court for a fresh trial.
In addition to seeking a retrial, the state has also asked for a temporary injunction to freeze any transactions involving two apartments connected to Bassam. The move appears aimed at preserving assets while the appeal process unfolds.
Allegations Over Hulhumalé Apartment Deal
The case centers on a transaction involving two apartments at Amin Avenue, a development in Hulhumalé built by Amin Construction. Prosecutors alleged that Bassam used funds belonging to the Football Association of Maldives to purchase the properties.
Court documents show that USD 1.2 million, equivalent to more than MVR 18 million, was transferred from FAM to Amin Construction. The funds were reportedly exchanged into Maldivian Rufiyaa, with the cash said to have been handed to Hassan Waheed, an FAM employee who is also facing charges in the case.
The state argued that Amin Construction generated cash vouchers indicating the funds were returned to FAM. However, prosecutors maintained that the money was never deposited into any official FAM account.
Court Finds Insufficient Evidence
Despite these allegations, the Criminal Court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the company’s criminal liability.
While Amin Construction acknowledged receiving the dollar deposits from FAM, it denied any wrongdoing. The company rejected claims that the equivalent funds were not returned to FAM or that they were used to settle payments for Bassam’s apartments.
In its verdict, the court stated that although the remaining balance for the apartment purchase was close to the amount allegedly handed over to Hassan Waheed, there was no documentary evidence directly linking those specific funds to the property transaction.
Without proof that the exchanged money was used to finance the apartments, the court determined that the charges against Amin Construction were not substantiated.
Bassam Convicted, Ordered to Repay Millions
Although the company was acquitted, the outcome was markedly different for Bassam.
He was found guilty of embezzlement and money laundering in connection with the same case. The court sentenced him to a combined 23 years in prison and imposed a fine of MVR 44 million.
Additionally, the ruling ordered that the USD 1.2 million be returned to FAM. Bassam has been given six months to repay the amount.
