Mathias Pogba, elder brother to French football star Paul Pogba, has been handed a three-year prison sentence by a Paris court over charges of extortion. The ruling, delivered on Thursday, also includes a suspension of two years from the sentence.
The court granted Mathias Pogba the option to serve his remaining one-year sentence under house arrest with the use of an electronic monitoring bracelet rather than spending the time behind bars.
The sentencing follows allegations of his involvement in an attempted extortion of 13 million euros ($13.5 million) from his brother, Paul Pogba, in 2022. According to court records, the extortion attempt included pressuring the Juventus midfielder, his family, and his business associates to comply with the financial demand.
As part of the ruling, Mathias Pogba has been fined 20,000 euros. The court condemned him for participating in coordinated efforts to extort the significant sum, which included threats directed at Paul Pogba and individuals close to him.
The high-profile case had sparked widespread media attention, particularly due to the public fallout between the siblings. Mathias Pogba had released several videos last year, accusing his brother of withholding financial support from his family and making other allegations that painted a grim picture of their relationship.
During the trial, the court heard how Paul Pogba had been held captive by armed men, including alleged associates of Mathias Pogba, in a Paris apartment in March 2022. The armed men reportedly demanded the payment of 13 million euros in exchange for their silence over potentially damaging information about the player.
Paul Pogba, who had initially denied some of the accusations, later disclosed the ordeal to law enforcement. His statements played a crucial role in the court’s investigation and subsequent decision to prosecute Mathias Pogba and other accomplices involved in the extortion scheme.
The case has brought significant attention to the darker side of fame and familial discord, with the court emphasizing the need for justice in holding individuals accountable, regardless of their personal connections to the victim.
Mathias Pogba’s legal team has not commented on whether they plan to appeal the ruling. The court's decision underscores the seriousness of the charges and the importance of addressing criminal actions, even when they involve family members.
