Sports
Paris prosecutor’s office launches formal investigation into Paul Pogba’s alleged extortion saga
The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened a formal judicial investigation into allegations by Paul Pogba that he was the target of extortion attempts and threats from an organised gang, prosecutor Laure Beccuau said on Friday, September 2.
The formal probe follows preliminary investigations and will look into allegations of blackmail by an armed gang, kidnapping, and membership of a criminal conspiracy, Beccuau said in the statement.
Pogba has been the target of extortion by childhood friends since March and paid 100,000 euros ($99,510.00) to that group in the spring, a source close to the preliminary investigation told Reuters on Wednesday.
The French prosecutor told Reuters on Monday that the initial investigations had been entrusted to the OCLCO, a unit within the judicial police tasked with investigating organised crime.
The extraordinary saga began last week when Pogba’s eldest brother Mathias released a bizarre video on social media to vow he would soon make a series of ‘great revelations’ about the World Cup winner.
He said during the video: ‘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.’
Shortly after the post was made, the Juventus midfielder released a statement – signed by his lawyers, his mother Yeo Moriba, and current agent Rafaela Pimenta – admitting that Mathias’ videos were ‘unfortunately 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’ outburst was followed by the former Manchester United star reportedly telling French authorities that he was held hostage by a gang armed with assault rifles in an attempted blackmail plot.
It is believed the gang demanded £11million from the French midfielder for ‘protection services’ stretching back 13 years, including the time he spent in Manchester.
Mathias hit out at the 29-year-old for his ‘lies’ and claimed to have ‘explosive information’ concerning fellow World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe, before accusing his brother of using a witch doctor to cast a spell on the PSG forward.
Mbappe has since been in contact with Paul – who denies the claims – and Mathias to gain the perspective of each of the brothers, according to RTL.
The outlet claims that the 23-year-old superstar called the Pogba brothers on Thursday to ask why he had been specified in the scandal.
French football president Noel Le Graet has since given Paul Pogba his full support.
Le Graet told L’Equipe: ‘This case is in the hands of the police. An investigation is underway. At this point, I won’t make any further comments other than to show my support for Paul Pogba.
‘Paul is a man I hold in high esteem, he’s highly appreciated by the entire Federation.
‘He has always been exemplary for the France team for almost ten years after having shone in all of the youth teams. I hope to see him again very soon, on the pitch and in great shape.’
An Accra Circuit Court sentenced a 27-year-old footballer to 12 years in prison for having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl on three occasions in Mamprobi, Accra.
At the conclusion of the trial, the court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann found Richard Mensah guilty of three counts of defilement.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Simon Tekpor, stated that the complainant was a trader and the victim’s sister.
It was stated that Mensah was a footballer who lived in the same house as the victim and complainant.
The Court heard that on March 11, 2022, the convict’s girlfriend travelled to Akraman, Accra, for a funeral.
According to the prosecution, around 3:00 p.m., Mensah took advantage of his girlfriend’s absence and invited the victim to his room to help the children with their homework.
It was stated that after the victim finished assisting Mensah’s children with the assignment, he asked his children to remain outside while he and the victim remained inside.
Mensah then undressed the victim and had sex with her through the vagina and anus, according to the prosecution.
On March 12, 2022, around 4:00 p.m., the victim was with Mensah’s children when Mensah invited her back into his room and had sex with her.
According to the prosecution, on March 14, 2022, around 1:00 p.m., the accused called the victim and asked her to help his girlfriend prepare food.
Mensah’s girlfriend went out after the victim complied and the food was prepared.
Mensah, according to the prosecution, took advantage of his girlfriend’s absence and had sex with the victim.
The prosecution stated that the complainant was looking for the victim and went to Mensah’s house around 9:00 p.m. the same day.
According to the prosecution, the victim was discovered in Mensah’s room, and she claimed he had sex with her.
Source: GNA
Kylian Mbappe of Paris St-Germain has been named the new captain of the France national team.
He takes over for Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who announced his retirement from international football in January.
On Tuesday, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed Deschamps’ selection of Mbappe as captain and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann as vice-captain via social media.
“Kylian meets all the requirements to have this responsibility,” France manager Didier Deschamps told French TV channel TF1 in an interview to be aired on Sunday.
“On the field as in the life of the group, by being a unifying element.”
On Tuesday, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed Deschamps’ selection of Mbappe as captain and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann as vice-captain via social media.
Mbappe was the top scorer at last year’s World Cup, helping France to a second consecutive World Cup final, which they lost to Argentina.
He scored two goals against Croatia in the 2018 final and was named the tournament’s best young player as France won the World Cup for the second time.
Deschamps’ team faces the Netherlands in their first Euro 2024 qualifier at the Stade de France on Friday, before facing the Republic of Ireland on Monday.
After being released from prison in Sweden earlier this month, Asante Kotoko winger Joseph Amoako has returned to the club.
Amoako, who was on loan at relegated Swedish Allsvenskan club Helsingborgs IF for the season, was reportedly found guilty of statutory rape of a minor in Sweden and sentenced to two years in prison.
After being charged with having sexual relations with a minor, the 20-year-old was detained in Swedish Police custody in November 2022 for a court trial.
Due to the rape allegations, Helsingborgs IF cancelled his loan deal before the contract with his parent club, Asante Kotoko, expired in January 2023.
The Helsingborgs District Court initially found the talented young winger guilty on two counts and sentenced him to 24 months in prison, but the charges were dropped after an appeal.
Amoako, who arrived in Ghana last week, paid a visit to his teammates on Wednesday morning at the Adako Jachie Training Complex in Kumasi.
After Kingsley Sarfo and Kwame Bonsu, he was the third Ghanaian footballer to be wrongfully imprisoned in Sweden on rape charges.
Amoako struggled for playing time at Helsingborgs IF, where he appeared in only ten (10) games — 295 minutes — across all competitions.
Asante Kotoko did not register him for this season, so he is ineligible to play for the Porcupine Warriors in the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League.
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