French judges on Tuesday ordered six males to face trial in a kidnap and extortion case involving French footballer Paul Pogba, with the star’s brother Mathias one of many accused, sources near the case stated. The trial follows a two-year investigation into the alleged extortion and kidnapping of the previous Manchester United midfielder in a high-profile case that emerged in 2022. Five individuals near the World Cup winner are suspected of getting “meticulously ready” a gathering within the Paris suburbs on March 19, 2022, which ended with Pogba being kidnapped and held by two unidentified males who demanded he give them 13 million euros ($14 million), in accordance with Paris prosecutors.
Pogba’s brother Mathias — a former striker himself — was not current for that assembly, however is suspected of getting put stress on his youthful brother afterwards “with the identical willpower to get (Paul Pogba) at hand over the cash”, in accordance with prosecutors.
All have denied their guilt within the affair, claiming they have been “victims” of armed robbers and that they have been assaulted after Paul Pogba refused to pay.
But prosecutors referred to as for the three childhood associates and two former acquaintances from the city the place Pogba grew up in japanese Paris who have been current on the evening to be tried for extortion, unlawful restraint and prison conspiracy.
Pogba — who performs for Juventus and the French nationwide group however is presently serving a four-year ban for doping — filed a grievance with Italian prosecutors saying he was the goal of a multi-million-euro blackmail plot.
‘Curse on Mbappe’
The 31-year-old advised investigators that his blackmailers threatened to discredit him by claiming he requested a “marabout”, or witch physician, to forged a spell on fellow France star Kylian Mbappe, which Pogba denies.
French prosecutors launched an investigation in September 2022 which was dealt with collectively by the French police’s anti-gang and central crime items.
During the investigation, Paul Pogba said that he had “voluntarily” helped members of the group, however then refused at hand seven million euros over to a few of them in September 2021. He subsequently saved his distance from the group, he stated.
In late September 2022, his brother Mathias — who was born in Guinea — posted a sequence of movies on social media incriminating Pogba and accusing him of getting “deserted” his household.
The movies got here a month after Mathias Pogba had put one other video on-line in French, Italian, English and Spanish promising “nice revelations” about his brother.
During the investigation, Mathias stated he had been afraid for his security and that of his household, saying he had been manipulated by the opposite suspects, and that he hoped he would quickly be reconciled together with his youthful brother.
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