Mathias Pogba Sentenced for Extorting His Brother, Paul Pogba
Footballer Given Three-Year Sentence for Kidnapping and Extortion Scheme
- Mathias Pogba, the brother of World Cup winner Paul Pogba, has been sentenced to three years in prison
- role in a kidnapping and extortion plot targeting the French football star.
- The case first came to light when Mathias Pogba posted a series of threatening videos on social media
Mathias Pogba, the brother of World Cup winner Paul Pogba, has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a kidnapping and extortion plot targeting the French football star.
The Paris criminal court delivered its verdict on Thursday, with two of the three years suspended, meaning Mathias will only serve one year in prison.
He will complete the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, monitored by electronic surveillance.
The case stems from an investigation in 2022, in which Mathias Pogba and five other individuals were accused of extorting Paul Pogba for 13 million euros ($13.6 million).
The plot escalated to the point where Paul Pogba was held at gunpoint by hooded men, who demanded that he financially support them due to his success as an international footballer.
The charges against the group included attempted extortion, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and illegal confinement.
Mathias Pogba’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the court’s decision. The case was heard in his absence, as Paul Pogba, who has not been implicated in the criminal activities, did not attend the trial.
In addition to Mathias Pogba’s sentence, Roushdane K., the suspected leader of the extortion group, was sentenced to eight years in prison. The other accomplices also received jail sentences.
French media reports indicate that the court found that Paul Pogba suffered significant financial losses of 197,000 euros ($204,000) and moral damages of 50,000 euros ($52,000). The court ordered that all the defendants, except Mathias Pogba, collectively pay this amount to the former Juventus midfielder.
During the investigation, Paul Pogba revealed that he had already paid 100,000 euros ($104,000) to the group, which included his own brother.
The case first came to light when Mathias Pogba posted a series of threatening videos on social media, claiming he would expose damaging secrets about Paul, French star Kylian Mbappé, and Paul’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta.
Mathias, who had a brief career as a footballer in lower-tier European clubs, has now been convicted for his role in this elaborate extortion scheme.
