Kim Kardashian’s 2016 Paris robbery case goes to trial with ten suspects

PARIS, France — A group of ten defendants, known in media as the “grandpa gang,” began trial Monday for their alleged involvement in a high-profile robbery of reality star Kim Kardashian during Paris Fashion Week in 2016.

The suspects were present in the Paris courtroom as their identities and occupations were confirmed. Many are now in their sixties or seventies, claiming they are retired. One defendant, Yunice Abbas, 71, stated in a prior interview that he and the others were unaware of who Kardashian was at the time of the crime. “It’s not her, it’s her diamond we targeted,” Abbas told C8 TV.

The robbery took place on October 3, 2016. Reports indicate that the suspects, disguising themselves as police officers, entered Kardashian’s apartment, bound her with zip ties and duct tape, and stole jewelry valued at approximately $10 million. This included a $4 million engagement ring given to her by then-husband, rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye.

Kim Kardashian is expected to travel to Paris next month to testify in the trial, with her appearance scheduled for May 13. The court is expected to deliver verdicts on May 23. Frank Berton, the lawyer for ringleader suspect Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, hopes that Kardashian’s celebrity status does not skew the trial’s fairness.

Abbas, who has written a book detailing his involvement in the robbery, expressed remorse and a desire to apologize to Kardashian. The group allegedly forced the concierge at gunpoint to lead them to Kardashian’s suite, where she feared for her life during the violent theft.

Investigators arrested the suspects partly due to DNA traces found on the plastic ties used during the robbery. The trial includes charges of armed robbery and kidnapping, with the potential for life sentences for some defendants if convicted.

While some items were lost or never recovered, including a diamond cross lost during their escape, many of the stolen jewels remain missing. The case continues to intrigue the public and media, shedding light on celebrity culture and crime.