Paul Pogba’s brother handed three-year prison sentence

Mathias Pogba, the brother of former Manchester United star Paul Pogba, has been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of attempting to extort his sibling.

Mathias is one of six men sentenced, with prison terms ranging from three to eight years, for their involvement in the plot to extort €13 million (£10.7m) from Paul Pogba. The French midfielder had told prosecutors in 2022 that he was held at gunpoint by two men who demanded the money, further fueling the shocking nature of the case.

“I was scared. The two guys pointed their guns at me. Suddenly, being pointed like this under threat, I told them that I was going to pay. They were shouting: ‘Shut up, look down’. When the hooded guys leave, I was told that I had to pay them, otherwise we were all in danger,” he told police, according to Le Monde.

The footballer paid €100,000 (£82,500) to a group and was subsequently targeted and pressured to pay them more.

Mathias has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal.

However, he was found guilty on Thursday of “exerting pressure on his brother, Paul, and his family to ensure the payment of €13 million.”

Mathias, who played for clubs such as Wrexham, Crewe Alexandra, Crawley Town, and Partick Thistle, has been sentenced to three years in prison and fined €20,000 (£16,500).

Two years of his prison sentence have been suspended.

Mathias’ lawyer Maitre Mbeko Tabula said: “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.”

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