Collateral victims or culprits? The Paris criminal court delivers its judgment on Thursday in the trial of the resounding kidnapping case of Paul Pogba, in which a brother and five childhood friends of the player are being prosecuted.
The court will announce its decision at 1:30 p.m.
Six defendants, Paul Pogba’s big brother and five of his childhood friends or acquaintances, are being prosecuted for their involvement in what has been described as“Pogba affair”: blackmail, pressure and culminating in a kidnapping in March 2022, under threat of firearms, with the aim of extracting 13 million euros from the midfielder, who was playing at the material time at Manchester United then at Juventus Turin.
The affair was revealed after the broadcast of videos on social networks in August 2022 by Mathias Pogba in which he notably accused Paul of having marabouted footballer Kylian Mbappé.
“How can a brother and friends come together to recover extraordinary sums from one of the most precious people in their lives? »asked one of the prosecutors, before delivering her indictment.
Against Mathias Pogba, the prosecution requested one year in prison under an electronic bracelet and a fine of 10,000 euros.
For the public prosecutor, the footballer’s eldest “was not aware of the beginnings of the project” of kidnapping but he is accused of having joined the group and played “an active role” to harm Paul Pogba and try to extract the 13 million euros from him.
Against the five other defendants, the prosecutors requested up to eight years in prison, fines of 20,000 euros and a ban on carrying a weapon for ten years.
During the three hours of indictment, the prosecutors spoke of the generosity of Paul Pogba, “the successful friend” and who finances the purchase of the restaurant of two defendants, makes transfers of several thousand euros, or even offers 100,000 euros to each of his close friends and his brothers for their birthday.
“You have created a situation of financial dependence for him” who has “damaged your friendship”denounced the public prosecutor.
“Always in my heart”
In their pleadings, defense lawyers argued that their clients had been victims of attacks during the months following the confinement.
One of them, Roushdane K. who appeared detained, said he was shot at point blank range in one hand, so that he would put “the pressure on Paul” who didn’t pay.
Another central argument of the defense: an investigation and a trial carried out against it, based according to it solely on the statements of Paul Pogba who did not wish to attend the hearings.
“Childhood friends were thrown out under the pretext that if Paul says something, it’s true…”regretted Me Karim Morand-Lahouazi, lawyer for Adama C.
Throughout the trial, Paul Pogba’s friends highlighted the deep friendship that linked them to the player, some since kindergarten.
Kids who grew up together in the Cité de la Renardière in Roissy-en-Brie, in the greater Parisian suburbs, until the departure of the footballer, called for an international career.
“When he returned to France, he came back to see us, he came to dinner with my parents and he ordered a mafé for my mother”summarized Boubacar C., Paul Pogba’s closest friend.
All admitted to having benefited from their friend’s largesse on numerous occasions.
“Does that make them criminals? Is it immoral to have a piece of the pie? » asked Mr. Saïd Harir. “No, it’s a fair return of things. In the 6th arrondissement, we call it networking! » explained the advice of Boubacar C with a smile on his lips.
Invited to speak one last time before the court adjourned, each of the defendants had a thought for Paul Pogba.
“Paul knows who he is to me, I will always keep him in my heart”declared Boubacar C., undoubtedly hoping that this declaration would reach the ears of his former friend.