A trial began Monday in Paris over the 2016 heist in which a group of robbers dubbed the “grandpa gang” allegedly tied up Kim Kardashian in her bedroom during Fashion Week and stole millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry.
The accused, who were all over the age of 60 at the time, appeared one after the other in the central Paris courtroom to confirm their identity and occupation—many of them saying they were retired.
With the stolen jewels’ value estimated at $6 million, the robbery was considered the biggest heist targeting an individual that Paris had seen in decades. The trial, which is scheduled to run through May 23, is expected to draw public attention. Kardashian is expected to testify in person at the trial on May 13.
“Ms. Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time,” Kardashian’s lawyers said. “She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities.”
In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show, Kardashian has described being terrified, thinking she would be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom and pointed a gun at her.
Ten people—nine men and one woman—will be standing trial. Of the ten accused, five face armed robbery and kidnapping charges and potentially face being sentenced to life imprisonment. The others have been charged with complicity in the heist or illegal possession of a weapon.
Yunice Abbas, 71, is only one of two who have admitted their participation in the robbery—he even published a book about the crime called, “I Sequestered Kim Kardashian.”
Abbas admitted he tied up the hotel concierge and stayed behind at the ground floor reception area as a lookout. He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian, but acknowledged he shared responsibility for the crime.
The earnings from his book have been frozen pending the outcome of the trial.
He was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision.
Tied Up With Plastic Cables and Tape
According to the investigation, the robbers allegedly held the concierge of the luxury building at gunpoint and forced the person to lead them into Kardashian’s hotel room.Kardashian recalled the experience in a 2020 interview on Late Show with David Letterman, during which she fought back tears as she recalled the incident.
“They kept on saying ‘the ring, the ring’,” Kardashian said, referring to the 18.88-carat diamond ring given to her by Kanye around the time of their engagement in 2013.
“I kept looking at the concierge,” she continued. “I was like, ‘Are we gonna die? Just tell them I have children, I have babies, I have a husband, I have a family ... I have to get home.’”
She said she was tied up with plastic cables and tape while the intruders searched the room for jewels, including her $4 million engagement ring.
DNA traces found on plastic bands helped police make arrests months later in January 2017.
Denial and Apologies
According to Abbas, minutes after the raid started, his accomplices came down from Kardashian’s room and gave him a bag of jewelry.Everyone took off either on foot or by bike.
Abbas said as he rode the bicycle, the bag containing the jewelry got caught in the front wheel, and he fell to the ground, spilling the contents of the bag. “I picked the jewels up and left,” he said.
The following morning, a passerby found a diamond-encrusted cross in the street and handed it to police. That was the only jewel from the robbery that was ever recovered.
Abbas said he didn’t know at the time of the robbery that Kardashian was the target.
“I was told about a famous person, a rapper’s wife. That’s all the information I had,” he said. “Until the next morning, when I heard on TV about the influencer. That’s when I understood who she was.”
In interviews with French media, Abbas said he was sorry for what he did and wanted to apologize to Kardashian.
He said he will detail his role during the trial, which will be conducted with a jury, a procedure in France reserved for the most serious crimes, yet he would not denounce his accomplices.
“I’m only an outsider. I’m not the one who masterminded the case. I take my share of responsibility,” he said.
Most of the suspects have denied involvement, except for Abbas and the alleged ringleader, 68-year-old Aomar Aït Khedache, nicknamed “Old Omar.”
Khedache’s DNA was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian. His lawyer, Franck Berton, said his client “will apologize, will actually explain how it happened, how he was contacted, and finally how the events unfolded.”
Khedache, who is deaf, will answer the court’s questions in writing.
Didier Dubreucq, 69, known as “Blue Eyes,” is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat. Although he was found to have numerous telephone communications with the other defendants and was filmed by CCTV cameras, he has denied all involvement.
