
French judges have ordered six men, including Mathias Pogba, the brother of renowned French footballer Paul Pogba, to stand trial in a kidnap and extortion case.
The trial, set to commence following a two-year investigation, revolves around the alleged kidnapping and extortion of Paul Pogba, a former Manchester United midfielder.
The incident dates back to March 19, 2022, when five individuals close to Pogba meticulously orchestrated a meeting in the Paris suburbs.
This meeting culminated in Pogba being kidnapped and held by two unidentified men who demanded a ransom of 13 million euros ($14 million). Although Mathias Pogba, a former striker himself, was not present at the meeting, he is accused of subsequently pressuring his younger brother to pay the demanded sum. All six defendants have denied their guilt, claiming they were victims of armed robbers themselves.
They assert that they were assaulted after Paul Pogba refused to pay the ransom.
Prosecutors, however, have called for the three childhood friends and two former acquaintances from Pogba's hometown in eastern Paris to be tried for extortion, illegal restraint, and criminal conspiracy.
Adding another layer of complexity to the case, Paul Pogba has alleged that his blackmailers threatened to discredit him by claiming he had asked a "marabout" or witch doctor to cast a spell on fellow French star Kylian Mbappe a claim Pogba vehemently denies.
During the investigation, Paul Pogba revealed that he had initially helped members of the group voluntarily but later refused to hand over seven million euros in September 2021, leading him to distance himself from them.
In late September 2022, Mathias Pogba posted a series of incriminating videos on social media, accusing his brother of abandoning his family. Mathias later claimed he had been manipulated by the other suspects and expressed hope for reconciliation with his younger brother.
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