Sequestration of Paul Pogba: Prison sentence required against the footballer’s brother, Mathias

Three years in prison, two of which were suspended, were requested on Wednesday against Paul Pogba’s older brother, Mathias, tried before the Paris criminal court almost three years after the footballer was sequestered for extortion purposes.

The prosecution requested that the one-year sentence be placed under an electronic bracelet. He also requested a fine of 10,000 euros against him, for having participated in the extortion attempt of an amount of 13 million euros targeting his brother and for having exerted numerous pressure on the ex-international French, his family and his professional relations in order to obtain this payment.

Heavy sentences for other defendants

Against the five other defendants, childhood friends or acquaintances of Paul Pogba, the prosecutors requested up to eight years in prison, fines of 20,000 euros and a ban on carrying weapons for ten years.

Against Roushdane K., suspected of being the mastermind of the group and who appears detained, the public prosecutor requested eight years of imprisonment. Against Machikour K., Boubacar C., Mamadou M., five years in prison, two of which were suspended, and a deferred committal warrant were requested. The representatives of the prosecution requested five years in prison, including one year suspended against Adama C., with an immediate committal warrant.

The defendants have been on trial for a week, notably for extortion, attempted extortion, participation in a criminal association and false imprisonment.

Not a kidnapping

Only the charge of kidnapping was not retained at the end of the trial, the magistrates emphasizing the lack of elements to characterize the offense.

The “Pogba affair” started on the night of March 19 to 20, 2022 with an ambush set up against Paul Pogba in an apartment in Montévrain (Seine-et-Marne). Two hooded men held him up at gunpoint in an attempt to extract 13 million euros from the midfielder, who was playing at Manchester United and then Juventus Turin at the time.

The affair came to light after the broadcast of videos on social networks in August 2022 by Mathias Pogba in which the latter accused Paul of having harassed Kylian Mbappé. The trial continues until Thursday evening with defense arguments.