Court’s Verdict
A Paris court has handed down a three-year prison sentence to Mathias Pogba, the brother of French football star Paul Pogba, with two years of the sentence suspended. He will serve the remaining year under house arrest with an electronic monitoring device.
Financial Penalties and Charges
Alongside the prison term, Mathias was fined 20,000 euros for his role in an extortion attempt where he and accomplices allegedly demanded 13 million euros from Paul Pogba. The charges also included exerting undue influence on Paul Pogba, his family, and business associates to secure this payment.
Case Details and Co-defendants
This case has reverberated through the French football community, revealing that Mathias Pogba was involved alongside five other men, including three of Paul’s childhood friends. These co-defendants were convicted of crimes including extortion, kidnapping, and participating in a criminal organization. Sentences ranged up to eight years in prison with additional fines from 20,000 to 40,000 euros. Roushdane K., identified as the ringleader, received the heaviest sentence of eight years.
Legal Defense and Public Reaction
Mathias Pogba’s lawyer, Mbeko Tabula, described the sentence as “extremely harsh” and announced plans to appeal, asserting his client’s innocence and claiming coercion. Mathias had previously publicized the case via social media, hinting at “explosive” revelations about his brother.
Paul Pogba’s Testimony
Paul Pogba recounted to investigators being ambushed and held at gunpoint by childhood friends, who accused him of not supporting them after achieving fame and fortune. He admitted to paying the group 100,000 euros, far less than the demanded amount, highlighting the pressure and threats he faced.
