A French court has reached a verdict in the case surrounding the €8 million jewellery heist involving reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who was robbed in a Paris hotel in 2016. While the court found a gang of robbers guilty, the sentences were notably more lenient than what prosecutors had requested.
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Describing the incident as “the most terrifying experience of my life,” Kardashian expressed her heartfelt gratitude towards the French authorities for “pursuing justice” in this case.
The trial, which began in April, involved a total of nine men and one woman. Prosecutors had sought the maximum penalty of ten years for the four men directly involved in the robbery. The ringleader, Aomar Ait Khedache, aged 69, received a three-year prison term, with an additional five years suspended. Due to the time he has already served, he will not face further incarceration, a fate shared by all of the convicted individuals.
On the night of October 2-3, 2016, Kardashian, then 35, was staying at an exclusive hotel in Paris when she was brutally threatened with a gun, bound, and gagged during the robbery. After hearing the verdict, she remarked, “I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice. The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family.”
“While I’ll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability, and I pray for healing for all,” Kardashian added, reflecting a grace that many have admired.
Following the verdict’s announcement, the convicted men embraced their loved ones, leaving the courtroom with bags and suitcases prepared in anticipation of imprisonment. “The sentences are quite lenient; I hope you understand the harm you have caused,” stated presiding judge David De Pas while delivering the verdict. He further commented, “The state of health of the main protagonists ethically prohibits incarcerating anyone. It would have been unjust to take you to prison this evening.”
Khedache, now virtually mute and deaf, conveyed a heartfelt plea for forgiveness through his lawyer. “I ask for forgiveness. I can’t find the words. I am very sorry,” he expressed, seeking “a thousand pardons” for his actions, including those toward his son Harminy, who was also convicted for driving on the night of the heist.
The two other men—Yunice Abbas, age 71, and Didier Dubreucq, age 69—received sentences of seven years, with an additional five years suspended. Dubreucq was absent during the proceedings, undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. The fourth member of the gang, 35-year-old Marc-Alexandre Boyer, received a similar sentence.
Kardashian’s lawyers released a statement saying she looks forward to moving past this troubling chapter and is committed to working on improving the criminal justice system for victims and for those seeking redemption.
Most of the stolen items, including a diamond ring valued at €3.5 million, gifted to Kardashian by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West, were never recovered. This robbery marked the largest theft from a private individual in France in two decades.
Many of the accused are now in their 60s and 70s, earning them the moniker “Grandpa robbers” in the media. However, as the prosecution had noted earlier in the week, it was vital to remember that Kardashian was the victim of a violent crime, regardless of the defendants’ age, stating, “Do not be taken in by the ‘wrinkles’ of the defendants.”
Kardashian herself testified during the trial, wearing a diamond necklace while reiterating her stance of forgiveness towards Khedache after reading his letter of apology. “I forgive you for what has taken place, but it does not change the emotion, the feelings, the trauma, and the way my life changed,” she shared, emphasizing her belief in second chances.
Once described as “famous for being famous,” Kardashian initially gained recognition in the early 2000s through reality TV shows, later expanding into fashion lines and film appearances.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
