The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has appealed a Criminal Court ruling related to a USD 1 million cheque issued by the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) in a money-laundering case involving former FAM president Bassam Adeel Jaleel.

According to the PGO, the Criminal Court concluded that the USD 1 million cheque was part of a dollar exchange transaction, rather than money laundering linked to the purchase of two apartments at Ameen Avenue developed by Ameen Construction. The prosecution has challenged the ruling at the High Court, arguing that the court’s decision not to hear testimony from several witnesses presented by the State was unlawful.

The State has requested the High Court to hear the testimony of all witnesses submitted by the prosecution, reassess the evidence presented in the case, and reconsider whether the USD 1 million cheque transaction constitutes money laundering.

The PGO noted that the appeal concerns only this part of the case and does not affect the conviction of Bassam Adeel Jaleel on other money-laundering charges, which were based on additional cheques and cash transactions linked to FAM funds.

Separately, the PGO has previously also appealed a ruling that found Ameen Construction not guilty of aiding and abetting money laundering in connection with the USD 1 million cheque.