A Paris criminal court has sentenced Mathias Pogba, the brother of World Cup-winning footballer Paul Pogba, to a three-year prison term in a high-profile extortion and kidnapping case.
The court ruled that two years of this sentence would be suspended, allowing Mathias to serve the remaining year under house arrest with electronic monitoring. This decision aligns with the prosecution's request, although Mathias's lawyer, Mbeko Tabula, indicated plans to appeal the ruling, describing it as "extremely harsh."
The case against Mathias Pogba and five other men stemmed from an incident in March 2022, where Paul Pogba was reportedly held at gunpoint by hooded men, including his brother and childhood friends. The group demanded €13 million ($13.6 million) from the French midfielder, claiming he owed them support after achieving international fame.
During the investigation, Paul Pogba revealed that he had paid €100,000 ($104,000) to the organized group, which included his brother, in an attempt to resolve the situation.
The court found Mathias Pogba guilty of attempted extortion and criminal conspiracy. In addition to his sentence, Mathias was fined €20,000 (£16,500). Five other men involved in the plot received sentences ranging from four to eight years.
Roushdane K., identified as the mastermind behind the blackmail scheme, was sentenced to eight years in prison. The court also ordered all defendants, except Mathias, to jointly compensate Paul Pogba for economic losses amounting to €197,000 ($204,000) and moral damages of €50,000 ($52,000).
The extortion case gained public attention when Mathias Pogba posted threats on social media, promising to reveal "explosive" information about his brother, fellow French star Kylian Mbappé, and Paul Pogba's agent, Rafaela Pimenta. These posts led to a broader investigation into the extortion attempts, ultimately resulting in the trial and sentencing.
Mathias Pogba, who spent most of his football career with lower-tier teams in Europe, expressed shock at the verdict. His lawyer argued that Mathias had been manipulated and forced into actions beyond his control. Despite these claims, the court proceeded with the sentencing, emphasizing the severity of the crimes committed.
The case unfolded without the presence of Paul Pogba, who was not required to attend the trial. However, the impact of the extortion attempt on his life and career was massive. In a previous interview, Paul Pogba admitted that the ordeal made him consider retiring from football, highlighting the emotional toll it took on him.
He reflected on how money could change people and disrupt familial relationships, stating, "When there is money, you have to be careful. Money changes people. It can break up a family. It can create a war."
In the wake of the trial, Juventus, Paul Pogba's club at the time, announced a mutual agreement to cancel his contract. This decision came despite a reduction in Pogba's doping ban from four years to 18 months, following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The ban was initially imposed after Pogba tested positive for testosterone in August of the previous year. CAS judges acknowledged a lack of intent, attributing the positive test to an erroneous supplement prescribed by a medical doctor in Florida.
Paul Pogba's career has been marked by both remarkable achievements and off-field challenges. Once the world's most expensive player, Pogba joined Manchester United from Juventus in 2016 for a then-record fee of €105 million ($116 million).
However, injuries and controversies have overshadowed his sporting prowess in recent years. With his contract terminated, Pogba is set to resume his career in March, free from the constraints of his previous ban.
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