PARIS – The Criminal Court of Paris has sentenced Mathias Pogba, brother of 2018 World Cup winner Paul Pogba, to three years in prison, two of which are suspended. The year of actual detention will be served with the use of an electronic bracelet. In addition to the sentence, Mathias Pogba will have to pay a fine of 20.000 euros for his involvement in the attempted extortion of 13 million euros against his brother, as well as for the pressure he exerted on Paul Pogba, his family and his professional contacts.
The case, which dates back to 2022, also involved five defendants, all childhood friends or close acquaintances of Paul Pogba. The court found them guilty of extortion, kidnapping, detention and criminal conspiracy, handing down prison sentences of up to eight years and fines of between 20.000 and 40.000 euros. The kidnapping charge was dropped, as suggested by the prosecutor.
Roushdane K., believed to be the ringleader of the conspiracy, was sentenced to eight years in prison, the most severe sentence requested by the prosecution. Adama C., one of the footballer's closest friends, received a five-year sentence and was led from the courtroom in handcuffs. Other defendants, including Mamadou M., Machikour K. and Boubacar C., were sentenced to five years with 12 months suspended, and four years with one year suspended each, respectively.
The Pogba case began on the night of March 19-20, 2022, when Paul Pogba, then a Manchester United player, was ambushed in an apartment in Montevrain, near Paris. Two hooded men threatened him with a gun, attempting to extort €13 million from him. The story became public in August 2022, when Mathias Pogba posted a series of videos on social media accusing his brother Paul of, among other things, “bewitching” fellow footballer Kylian Mbappé.
Article published on 19 December 2024 - 16:28
