Published on :
The Paris prosecutor’s office announces on Friday the opening of a judicial investigation against X for “extortion with a weapon in an organized gang” and “kidnapping and kidnapping”, in particular, following a complaint by Blues midfielder Paul Pogba against one of his brothers, Mathias, and childhood friends.
The “Pogbaffair” continues and justice is organized. The investigations into the extortion denounced by the star of the French football team Paul Pogba were entrusted on Friday, September 2 to two investigating judges from the Paris court.
“Following the initial investigations, the Paris public prosecutor’s office today opened a judicial investigation against X counts of extortion with a weapon in an organized gang, kidnapping or kidnapping with release before the seventh day in an organized gang to prepare or facilitate the commission of a crime or misdemeanor and participation in a criminal association with a view to committing a crime,” said Laure Beccuau.
>> To read also: From Valbuena to Pogba, back on extortion cases in football
Following a complaint filed by Paul Pogba on July 16 with the Turin public prosecutor’s office, a preliminary investigation had been opened by the Paris public prosecutor’s office on August 3 “of the heads of extortion in an organized gang and attempted extortion in a gang organized and participation in a criminal association with a view to committing a crime”, indicates the prosecutor.
Maraboutage and extortion
This investigation related “to various facts of which (Paul) Pogba would have been the victim between March and July 2022”, according to the press release.
The player, at the heart of an incredible affair which is shaking the world of French football two and a half months before the World Cup in Qatar, has denounced extortion attempts amounting to millions of euros.
The investigation was entrusted to the Central Office for the Fight against Organized Crime (OCLCO) of the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ). According to a source familiar with the matter, in addition to Paul Pogba, several people were heard, including the player’s mother.
In this case, the name of French football star Kylian Mbappé also appears, reluctantly: Paul Pogba explained to investigators that “his blackmailers wanted to discredit him by broadcasting messages in which he allegedly asked a marabout about his family circle to cast a spell” on the PSG striker, which the Juve player denies.
>> To read also: The Pogba, from the passion for football to the accusations of extortion
According to information from franceinfo confirmed to AFP by a source familiar with the matter, Paul Pogba told investigators that he had been intimidated several times in Manchester, his ex-club, and up to the Juventus training center, where he came back this summer.
Among the suspects, he claims to have recognized his older brother Mathias, himself a professional footballer.
With AFP
