The older brother of former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been sentenced to three years in prison, two of which were suspended, after being found guilty of attempted extortion against the French footballer.
Mathias Pogba, who was also fined €20,000 (£16,500), will avoid time behind bars and instead serve a year while wearing an electronic bracelet.
Five other men were convicted of extortion and other crimes and were sentenced to between four and eight years by a Paris court on Thursday.
Paul Pogba, 31, said he was “tricked by childhood friends” who held him at gunpoint in 2022 and demanded 13 million euros ($10.8 million). pounds sterling). He said he paid them €100,000 (£82,600).
Mathias Pogba's lawyer Mbeko Tabula told RMC Sport that the sentence was “extremely harsh” and said “I think we will appeal”.
The five other defendants were sentenced to the following sentences: Roushdane K was sentenced to eight years, Boubacar C to four years, two of which were suspended, Adama C to five years, Mamadou M to five years and 12 months suspended and Machikour K to four years, three of which were suspended.
Last year, Paul Pogba told Al Jazeera that he had considered retiring from football due to the extortion attempt.
“When there is money, you have to be careful,” he said. “Money changes people. It can break up a family. It can create a war.”
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