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A trial concerning the infamous 2016 robbery of reality TV star Kim Kardashian has commenced in Paris. During the incident, armed assailants tied Kardashian up in her bedroom and made off with millions in valuables.
Ten individuals, consisting of nine men and one woman, are facing charges of robbery and kidnapping related to the attack on Kardashian and the concierge at the residence where she was staying on October 2, 2016. Two defendants have admitted to their involvement, while the rest have denied any wrongdoing.
At the time of the robbery, Kardashian was in France for Fashion Week. Reports indicate that the perpetrators, masquerading as police officers, bound her with zip ties and duct tape, threatened her at gunpoint, and stole jewelry valued at approximately $9 million, including a $4 million diamond ring gifted to her by her then-husband, Kanye West.
In various interviews and on her family’s reality show, Kardashian conveyed the distressing details of the incident, expressing fear for her life when the criminals forced their way into her room with a gun. “They dragged me out to the hallway on top of the stairs, that’s when I saw the gun like clear as day,” she recounted on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” The memories, she noted, continue to affect her deeply.
According to her legal representatives, Kardashian is scheduled to give her testimony in person on May 13 as part of the ongoing trial, which is expected to conclude by May 23. Her lawyers emphasized her respect for the French legal system and her intent for the trial to unfold in an orderly manner.
Initially, twelve defendants were anticipated in court; however, one has passed away, and another is too ill to stand trial. Investigations suggest that five of the ten current defendants were present during the heist.
The media has dubbed the accused “The Granddad Robbers,” largely due to their ages, with most being in their 60s and 70s, and a history of bank robbery convictions.
One of the defendants, 77-year-old Yunice Abbas, has publicly acknowledged his role as a lookout during the operation. His DNA was found at the scene of the crime. He claims he was unarmed and did not threaten Kardashian directly but accepts his share of responsibility. In 2021, he published a book titled “I Sequestered Kim Kardashian,” where he detailed his involvement.
Abbas has indicated that he plans to apologize during the trial and will disclose details about his contributions to the robbery, though he does not intend to implicate his co-defendants.
Allegedly leading the group is 68-year-old Aomar Aït Khedache, who is suspected of entering Kardashian’s apartment. Known as “Old Omar,” his DNA was recovered from the tape used to gag Kardashian. Reports indicate he escaped on a bicycle and later met his son, who was waiting at a nearby train station.
The remaining defendants are believed to have provided information about Kardashian’s location, with some implicated in reselling the stolen jewelry in Antwerp, Belgium.
During the robbery, numerous items were taken, but only one piece—a diamond cross on platinum—was recovered after being lost amid the suspects’ escape. The alleged thieves will face a jury trial, as is the procedure for the most serious offenses in France.
Source
www.cbsnews.com