Pogba case: 3 years in prison, including 2 suspended, for Mathias Pogba, all requisitions

The trial on the attempted extortion and kidnapping of Paul Pogba ends on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th December with the submissions for the accused and the deliberation.

More than two years after the case, the Pogba trial opened in Paris this Tuesday, November 26, in order to shed light on the events that took place on the evening of March 19, 2022 in Seine-et-Marne, when world champion Paul Pogba found himself facing armed men demanding a large sum of money from him.

What happened during that famous evening of March 2022

On March 19, 2022, Paul Pogba is in France for a gathering of the French team. The international is heading to Roissy-en-Brie (Seine-et-Marne) to visit his childhood friends. Paul Pogba is from the family of Boubacar C. and Adama C., who are now on the defendants' bench. When dinner ends, the former Manchester United player leaves the place with three other “childhood friends”, in order to join a rented apartment by Adama C. à Montevrain. It is in this accommodation that Paul Pogba finds himself face to face with his five close friends. According to the file, between 00:46 and 06:13, all the protagonists, including Paul Pogba, turn off their telephone lines and hand them over to Roushdane K..

A “heated discussion” then began, according to the court file. The player's five friends made several reproaches to him and claimed to have been “let down”. They felt that they should be paid for this service because Paul Pogba had been “protected”.

Two hooded, armed men wearing bulletproof vests then enter the room. They are introduced by Roushdane K. as “his protectors” against “bandits” who want to extort or kidnap him. The two men then point their weapons at the French international before demanding the handover of 3 million euros in cash and 10 million euros by transfer. “Under threat, the player agrees to pay”, the court file states. Released in the evening, Paul Pogba returned to the Le Meurice hotel in central Paris. The next morning, he contacted his bank to make a transfer of 11 million euros, which was refused. He received repeated pressure for weeks.

The role of Mathias Pogba

According to the investigation, although his brother was not present at that famous evening, he would have put pressure on Paul Pogba in order to obtain payment of the amount demanded. On September 23, 2022, videos were published on social networks in order to encourage the player to pay the amount demanded. In front of investigators, Mathias Pogba claims that he had no intention of putting pressure on his younger brother.

What the accused risk

Presumed innocent, Mathias Pogba risks seven years in prison and several thousand euros in fines. Five defendants are also indicted in this case on the following counts

•  "organized gang extortion committed with a weapon"
• "arbitrary arrest, kidnapping, sequestration or detention of a hostage to facilitate a crime or offense, followed by release before the seventh day for preparing or facilitating a crime or offense committed by a gang organized"
• “participation in a criminal association with a view to preparing a crime”.

Already under judicial supervision, the defendants risk up to ten years in prison and 75,000 euros 150,000 euros fine.

Live

16:45 – Mathias Pogba should not return to prison

If the judge follows the requisitions, Mathias Pogba should not return to prison. If he were to be sentenced to one year in prison, Paul's brother should see his sentence reduced.

16:40 – Requisition of Mamadou M.

Mamadou M.: 5 years in prison, 18 months of which are suspended. Committal order with deferred effect. A fine of 20,000 euros. Ban on carrying a weapon for 10 years.

16:39 – The requisition of Machikour K.

Machikour K.: 5 years in prison, 3 years of which are suspended. Detention order with deferred effect. A fine of 20,000 euros. Ban on carrying a weapon for 10 years.

16:38 – The requisition of Boubacar C.

Boubacar C.: 5 years' imprisonment, 2 of which are suspended. Detention order with deferred effect. A fine of 20,000 euros. Ban on carrying a weapon for 10 years.

For Mathias Pogba, 3 years of imprisonment requested, including 2 years suspended, and adjustment of the firm sentence (home detention, electronic bracelet).

10:35 – The expected requisitions

This Wednesday, the prosecution's submissions at the trial of Paul Pogba's relatives for extortion and kidnapping are due to take place. “Paul Pogba is seeking compensation of 50,000 euros for moral damages and a joint and several order for all,” his lawyer explained to the court. Finally, for economic damages, Paul Pogba's lawyer is seeking 197,227 euros, which is the joint and several order for the defendants to pay. the exception of Mathias Pogba, who was not present at the Adidas store.

10:26 – Mathias Pogba spoke about his detention

“”It's the worst time of my life (…) I was all alone in solitary confinement. I was insulted, I was the brother who betrayed. I was depressed, all alone in the dark”

10:25 – Mathias Pogba is “ashamed”

“Are you aware that you participated in the destruction of your brother's career ?”, the lawyer asks. “Did it have an impact”, replies Mathias Pogba, who says he “regretted” sending videos a week later. “Are you ashamed of yourself?”, the lawyer replies. “Today, yes”, says Mathias Pogba, while affirming that he will always be there for his brother.

10:22 – Mathias Pogba's outstretched hand

“I'm in a hurry to get back to my family and sweep all this away,” Mathias Pogba explained. His lawyer asked him what he wanted to say to his brother. “A lot of things. Why didn't he alert me, why didn't he say anything. But now let's get back to new and wonderful adventures. “In the family…” concludes Mathias Pogba, who says he is “always” proud of his brother.