Paul Pogba’s brother, Mathias, sentenced to three years in prison over plot to extort former Manchester United midfielder
Mathias Pogba has been sentenced to three years in prison over the extortion plot against his brother Paul (AFP via Getty) Paul Pogba’s brother, Mathias, has been sentenced to three years in prison in France after being found guilty of attempted extortion against the former Manchester United midfielder. Mathias Pogba, 34, was one of six defendants who stood on trial after being accused of trying to extort €13 million (£10.7m) out of his younger brother. Paul Pogba, 31, told French investigators that in March 2022 he had been kidnapped and held at gunpoint by two hooded men who demanded that he paid €13m for ‘protection services’. Pogba paid the men €100,000 (£82,500) and was then repeatedly intimidated to hand over more money at France national team’s training centre in Clairefontaine, at his home in Manchester and at Juventus’ training ground in Italy. Mathias Pogba maintained he was not part of the kidnap plot but on Thursday he was found guilty of ‘committed pressure against his brother Paul and his family in order to ensure payment of the sum of €13m’. The 34-year-old, who played for Wrexham, Crewe, Crawley Town and Guinea’s national team, has been sentenced to three years in prison, two of which are suspended, and has been given a fine of €20,000 (£16,500). Mathias Pogba with his brother Paul Pogba in 2019 (AFP via Getty) The five other defendants, childhood friends or acquaintances of Paul Pogba, were found guilty of extortion, kidnapping and detention as well as participation in a criminal conspiracy and sentenced to prison terms of up to eight years and fines ranging from €20,000 to €40,000 (£16,500 to £33,000). Maitre Mbeko Tabula, the lawyer representing Mathias Pogba, said at the end of the hearing: ‘It is an extremely harsh decision that does not correspond to our expectations. Paul Pogba with his mother Yeo Pogba and his brothers Florentin and Mathias after France’s World Cup win in 2018 (Getty) ‘I will speak with Mathias but I think we will appeal. The decision does not correspond at all to the reality of this case and to Mathias’ intentions towards Paul. ‘He is obviously in shock. From the beginning he has proclaimed his innocence. He says he was manipulated, coerced, that he was put under pressure. That he would never have acted in a negative way towards his brother. We did not take into consideration his vulnerability, the fact that he was forced to do things regardless of his will. We are denying him this reality, which is why we are condemning him. ‘[There is] No jealousy, no resentment. Disagreements between brothers like that happen everywhere.’ PAUL POGBA EXTORTION PLOT SENTENCES Mathias Pogba: 3 years in prison, 2 of which were suspended, a fixed sentence at home, a fine of 20,000 euros. Boubacar C.: 4 years in prison, 2 of which were suspended. Deferred committal order. Fine of 20,000 euros, a 10-year ban on carrying a weapon. Machikour K.: 4 years in prison, 3 of which were suspended. House arrest under electronic surveillance. Fine of 40,000 euros. A 10-year ban on carrying a weapon. Mamadou M.: 5 years in prison, 12 months of which were suspended, a deferred committal order, a fine of 20,000 euros, a 10-year ban on carrying a weapon. Roushdane K.: 8 years in prison and continued detention. 20,000 euros fine. Ban on carrying a weapon for 10 years. Adama C.: 5 years in prison with a committal warrant. Fine of 20,000 euros and a 10-year ban on carrying a weapon. Paul Pogba, who did not attend the trial at any point, is currently without a club after leaving Juventus last month. The 2018 World Cup winner was given a four-year ban in February for a doping offence, but that was reduced in October to 18 months following an appeal. The midfielder is eligible to return to football in March and has been linked with moves to Marseille, the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. ‘It’s been really difficult for me off the pitch, what’s happened, it’s been especially hard mentally,’ Pogba told Al-Jazeera earlier this year ‘Money changes people, it’s the truth, it can destroy a family, start a war.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Paul Pogba’s brother, Mathias, has been sentenced to three years in prison in France after being found guilty of attempted extortion against the former Manchester United midfielder.
Mathias Pogba, 34, was one of six defendants who stood on trial after being accused of trying to extort €13 million (£10.7m) out of his younger brother.
Paul Pogba, 31, told French investigators that in March 2022 he had been kidnapped and held at gunpoint by two hooded men who demanded that he paid €13m for ‘protection services’.
Pogba paid the men €100,000 (£82,500) and was then repeatedly intimidated to hand over more money at France national team’s training centre in Clairefontaine, at his home in Manchester and at Juventus’ training ground in Italy.
Mathias Pogba maintained he was not part of the kidnap plot but on Thursday he was found guilty of ‘committed pressure against his brother Paul and his family in order to ensure payment of the sum of €13m’.
The 34-year-old, who played for Wrexham, Crewe, Crawley Town and Guinea’s national team, has been sentenced to three years in prison, two of which are suspended, and has been given a fine of €20,000 (£16,500).
The five other defendants, childhood friends or acquaintances of Paul Pogba, were found guilty of extortion, kidnapping and detention as well as participation in a criminal conspiracy and sentenced to prison terms of up to eight years and fines ranging from €20,000 to €40,000 (£16,500 to £33,000).
Maitre Mbeko Tabula, the lawyer representing Mathias Pogba, said at the end of the hearing: ‘It is an extremely harsh decision that does not correspond to our expectations.
‘I will speak with Mathias but I think we will appeal. The decision does not correspond at all to the reality of this case and to Mathias’ intentions towards Paul.
‘He is obviously in shock. From the beginning he has proclaimed his innocence. He says he was manipulated, coerced, that he was put under pressure. That he would never have acted in a negative way towards his brother. We did not take into consideration his vulnerability, the fact that he was forced to do things regardless of his will. We are denying him this reality, which is why we are condemning him.
‘[There is] No jealousy, no resentment. Disagreements between brothers like that happen everywhere.’
PAUL POGBA EXTORTION PLOT SENTENCES
Mathias Pogba: 3 years in prison, 2 of which were suspended, a fixed sentence at home, a fine of 20,000 euros.
Boubacar C.: 4 years in prison, 2 of which were suspended. Deferred committal order. Fine of 20,000 euros, a 10-year ban on carrying a weapon.
Machikour K.: 4 years in prison, 3 of which were suspended. House arrest under electronic surveillance. Fine of 40,000 euros. A 10-year ban on carrying a weapon.
Mamadou M.: 5 years in prison, 12 months of which were suspended, a deferred committal order, a fine of 20,000 euros, a 10-year ban on carrying a weapon.
Roushdane K.: 8 years in prison and continued detention. 20,000 euros fine. Ban on carrying a weapon for 10 years.
Adama C.: 5 years in prison with a committal warrant. Fine of 20,000 euros and a 10-year ban on carrying a weapon.
Paul Pogba, who did not attend the trial at any point, is currently without a club after leaving Juventus last month.
The 2018 World Cup winner was given a four-year ban in February for a doping offence, but that was reduced in October to 18 months following an appeal.
The midfielder is eligible to return to football in March and has been linked with moves to Marseille, the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
‘It’s been really difficult for me off the pitch, what’s happened, it’s been especially hard mentally,’ Pogba told Al-Jazeera earlier this year
‘Money changes people, it’s the truth, it can destroy a family, start a war.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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