Mathias Pogba, the brother of World Cup winner Paul Pogba, was sentenced by a Paris criminal court on Thursday to three years in prison, two of which are suspended, in connection with an extortion and kidnapping case. The sentence, which also includes house arrest with electronic monitoring, comes after Mathias Pogba’s involvement in a scheme to extort millions from his brother.
The sentence aligns with the prosecution’s request, although Mathias Pogba’s lawyer has indicated plans to appeal the ruling. Notably, the former Manchester United and Juventus player was absent from the court proceedings.
The Extortion Scheme and Kidnapping Incident
Mathias Pogba, along with five accomplices, was charged with attempting to extort €13 million ($13.6 million) from Paul Pogba. The plot unraveled after Paul was held at gunpoint by masked men in March 2022. The defendants, including Mathias, demanded financial support from Paul, claiming that he owed them due to their shared childhood and his rise to international football stardom.
In the trial, Mathias Pogba and his co-defendants faced charges of extortion, kidnapping, and criminal conspiracy. The case highlighted the disturbing lengths to which the accused went, including intimidation tactics, to pressure Paul into complying with their demands.
Sentences for Mathias Pogba and Co-Defendants
Mathias Pogba received a prison sentence of three years, two of which are suspended. The remainder of the sentence will be served under house arrest with electronic monitoring. Other individuals involved in the extortion plot also received prison sentences, with Roushdane K., believed to be the mastermind behind the operation, sentenced to eight years in prison.
Financial and Moral Damages to Paul Pogba
The court ruled that Paul Pogba suffered both economic and moral damages as a result of the crime. The total losses amounted to €197,000 ($204,000) in economic damage and €50,000 ($52,000) in moral damage. All defendants, excluding Mathias Pogba, were ordered to jointly pay this amount to Paul Pogba as restitution.
During the investigation, Paul Pogba admitted to paying €100,000 ($104,000) to the extortion group, which included his brother. This payment was made under duress as the group’s threats and intimidation escalated.
Public Revelations and Social Media Threats
The case gained significant public attention when Mathias Pogba posted videos on social media threatening to reveal “explosive” details about his brother, Kylian Mbappé, and Paul Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta. These online threats, which included accusations of foul play, ultimately led to the investigation and trial. Mathias, who also had a career in football, spent much of his time playing for lower-tier clubs across Europe.