Six individuals, including Paul Pogba’s brother Mathias, were sentenced in a high-profile extortion case, with sentences ranging from three to eight years in prison. Mathias received a three-year sentence and will wear an electronic bracelet. The group attempted to extort €13 million from the footballer, shocking the French football community. Defense claims Mathias was manipulated, while Paul Pogba reported being threatened by childhood friends.
On Thursday, a Paris court sentenced six men, including Mathias Pogba, the brother of French footballer Paul Pogba, to prison for their roles in extorting the midfielder. Mathias received a three-year sentence, with two years suspended, allowing him to wear an electronic bracelet instead of serving time in jail. He was also fined 20,000 euros for participating in an attempt to extort €13 million from his brother in 2022.
The extortion case, which has sent shockwaves through the French football community, involves three of Pogba’s childhood friends alongside his brother. The additional defendants received sentences ranging from three to eight years for various crimes, including extortion, kidnapping, and involvement in a criminal enterprise. Roushdane K., identified as the mastermind, was sentenced to eight years.
Defense attorney Mbeko Tabula stated that Mathias Pogba’s sentence is “extremely harsh” and confirmed plans to appeal. Mathias claims he was manipulated and coerced into the actions taken against his brother, maintaining his innocence. The case became public when Mathias posted a video in August 2022, alluding to potentially shocking revelations regarding Paul.
Paul Pogba asserted that in March 2022, he was deceived by his childhood acquaintances, who subsequently held him at gunpoint and demanded a substantial payment for “services rendered.” He detailed that he had only made a payment of €100,000 to the group involved, emphasizing the severity of the threats made against him and the involvement of his own brother in the extortion scheme.
Original Source: www.france24.com
