(ATR) The International Aquatics Federation says it will continue to "monitor the situation" regarding vice president Husain Al Musallam.
Al Musallam was named in media reports as "co-conspirator #3" in a criminal trial against Guam Football Association President Richard Lai. Lai pleaded guilty to money laundering charges, saying he took bribes facilitated by two figures in the Asian Football Confederation and Olympic Council of Asia.
The first of those figures was named as Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah. Ahmad, who is president of the OCA, quickly relinquished his FIFA roles in light of the allegations. Ahmad denied all charges against him.
Al Musallam, OCA director general and vice-president of FINA, was identified by media reports as the third co-conspirator in the case against Lai. According to documents, obtained by Around the Rings from the United States District Attorney’s office, "co-conspirator #3" sent Lai nearly $1 million in order to gain the Guam football administrator’s influence.
A spokesperson for the U.S. District Attorney’s office declined to comment on the case or offer insight if Ahmad or Al Musallam were being investigated.
A statement from FINA does not say if Al Musallam has resigned his roles in the organization, and says that the organization will continue to let any investigation play out before taking any action.
"Even though this case is not directly related to FINA, we will of course monitor the situation and take all measures deemed necessary following the conclusion of the various investigations," the statement said.
Ahmad has served as president of the OCA since 1991. In a statement following being named in the Lai case, Ahmad said he "will vigorously defend his integrity and reputation and that of any organization that he represents in any relevant legal review."
Requests for comment about the status of both Ahmad and Al-Musallam from the OCA were not returned. As of now both remain on the OCA’s executive committee.
Should Ahmad take leave of his leadership at the OCA, the most senior vice president would be called upon to serve as interim president. That would be Maj. Gen. Charouck Arirachakaran of Thailand. Timothy Fok of Hong Kong is next most senior.
Homepage photo: Wikimedia Commons
Written by Aaron Bauer
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