Former FAM Accounts Head Ageel Arrested in Bangkok, Returned to Maldives

Mohamed Ageel, the former head of the Football Association of Maldives’ (FAM) accounts department, has been arrested in Bangkok, Thailand, and returned to the Maldives.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) said Ageel was presented before the court and remanded in custody pending the outcome of his trial.

Local media reported that Ageel was apprehended by Thai authorities in January while on the run, following an Interpol red notice issued by the Maldives.

Ageel has been charged with aiding and abetting money laundering in connection with the scandal over funds sent by FIFA to FAM. Previous hearings in the case had been postponed as he was unable to appear in court.

Bassam, another former FAM official implicated in the scandal, has already been convicted in three separate cases. He received sentences of four years, five years, and 23 years, and is currently serving a total of 32 years in prison. In one of the cases, he was also fined MVR 44 million.