According to reports, Mathias Pogba, the brother of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, has been placed under formal investigation and is being detained in connection with an extortion case targeting the French international.
Mathias is being investigated on suspicion of gang-based extortion and participation in a criminal association, a judicial source told Reuters.
Paul Pogba had filed a report with the French police that he was the target of extortion attempts and threats from an organised gang.
The 29-year-old told the Paris prosecution office that he had been the target of extortion by childhood friends since March and revealed that he had paid €100,000 to that group in the spring.
Franceinfo radio claimed that the group, armed with MI6 assault rifles, demanded €13m from the French midfielder for ‘protection services’ stretching back 13 years.
The World Cup winner claims the gang has been threatening him for four months. Acts of intimidation were carried out in Manchester in April, and later around the Italian city of Turin, where Pogba currently plays for Juventus.
The gang is also said to have taken Paul to a flat in the Paris suburb of Lagny-sur-Marne, where he grew up, at the end of March. There, the gang members accused the 29-year-old of not helping them financially since he became a professional player.
There was also claims that Paul had used a witch doctor to cast a spell on Mbappe, something he denies, and said was made up to discredit him.
The saga began last month when Paul’s eldest brother Mathias released a video on social media, vowing to make a series of ‘great revelations’ about the World Cup winner.
In the video he said: “The French, English, Italian and Spanish public, as well as my brother’s fans — and even more so the French team and Juventus, my brother’s teammates and his sponsors — deserve to know certain things.
“In order to make an informed decision if he deserves the admiration, respect and love of the public.
“Whether he deserves his place in the French team and the honour of playing in the World Cup. If he deserves to be a starter at Juventus.
“If he is a trustworthy person, that any player would want to have at his side.”
After the post was made, Pogba’s representatives released a statement stating Mathias’ videos came as ‘no surprise’.
The statement read: “They (the videos) are in addition to threats and extortion attempts by an organised gang against Paul Pogba.
“The competent bodies in Italy and France were informed a month ago and there will be no further comments in relation to the ongoing investigation.”
Mathias has denied being aware of any extortion attempt against his brother.
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