Paris (AFP)
Matthias Pogba, the older brother of French football star Paul Pogba, was imprisoned with four other people temporarily, on charges of blackmailing the Italian Juventus player, according to what a source close to this case said, after they appeared before the investigating judge.
Matthias Pogba, 32, had admitted that he was behind a video posted on social media in four languages (French, Italian, English and Spanish), on August 27, in which he vowed to reveal big things about the world champion.
The other four are all close to Pogba’s family, aged between 27 and 36, and the five have been detained since Tuesday and Wednesday.
Paul Pogba, 29, filed a complaint with the public prosecutor in Turin on July 16, saying he was the target of a €13 million extortion plot.
Matthias Pogba’s lawyer, Yassin Bouzrou, confirmed that he would appeal the decision to imprison his client, and told the French “BFMTV” station, “We will appeal this decision,” stressing that his client has not committed any criminal offense.
Pogba, the world champion with his country in the World Cup Russia 2018, told investigators that his blackmailers wanted to discredit him, by claiming that he had asked someone to cast a spell on his teammate and Paris Saint-Germain star striker Kylian Mbappe, which he denies.
The French Public Prosecution Office launched its investigation on September 2, which is jointly handled by the police anti-gang unit and the Central Crime Unit, and several people were heard by the police, including the player’s mother.
Lawyers for the player, his mother Yeo Moreba and his attorney, Rafaela Pimenta, who succeeded the late Mino Raiola, said in a statement that Matthias Pogba’s recent statements on social media are unfortunately not surprising, as they are added to the threats and extortion attempts by an organized gang against Paul Pogba.