Eight individuals have been found guilty following the armed robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris nearly a decade ago, where millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry were stolen. The robbery took place during Paris Fashion Week in 2016 and involved the theft of around $10 million in valuables, including a diamond engagement ring.
Out of the ten people accused—nine men and one woman—eight were convicted. Four of those who actively participated in the heist received sentences of up to eight years, though most of these sentences were suspended. None of those convicted will return to prison due to time already served. Two of the accused were acquitted.
The robbery occurred on the night of October 3 to 4, 2016, when a group of men entered the Hotel de Pourtales in central Paris, where Kardashian was staying. They gained access to her hotel room while she was inside. Kardashian later described the incident as the most terrifying experience of her life, leaving a profound and lasting impact on her and her family. Despite the trauma, she expressed forgiveness toward one of the robbers after receiving an apology letter, emphasizing her belief in growth and accountability.
DNA evidence linked two of the convicted men, Aomar Ait Khedache and Yunice Abbas, to the crime scene, and both admitted involvement. Khedache, now disabled, deaf, and mute, was sentenced to eight years, five of which were suspended. Abbas, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and recently had heart surgery, received a seven-year sentence with five years suspended. Other members of the robbery gang, including Didier Dubreucq and Marc-Alexandre Boyer, received similar sentences.
The defendants, many of whom are in their 60s and 70s, were referred to by French media as the “Grandpa robbers.” Prosecutors had pushed for harsher punishments, emphasizing that despite their age and health issues, these men were experienced criminals. However, the judge ruled that incarcerating the main defendants would be unethical due to their health conditions and deemed the sentences sufficient, describing them as “quite lenient.” The judge added it would be unjust to send them back to prison at this stage.
During the trial, Kardashian shared her harrowing account of the night. She explained that after retiring to her hotel room around 3 a.m., two masked gunmen dressed as police officers broke in, dragging the hotel receptionist with them. Although Kardashian managed to call her bodyguard, one of the men seized her phone.
The robbers took her diamond engagement ring, which was on the bedside table, and then forcibly moved her around the room searching for more jewelry. One gunman held a firearm to her back, threw her onto the bed, and bound her hands with zip ties. She pleaded with the intruders to understand she had children and needed to return home safely.
One of the men pulled open her robe, under which she was not wearing anything, and tied her legs together. Kardashian feared she would be raped or killed, with a gun pointed directly at her. After seizing the jewelry, the robbers fled, leaving her alone in the bathroom.
Kardashian was eventually able to free herself with the help of her friend and stylist, then ran out onto the balcony to call for help. She remained fearful that the robbers might return. When the Paris police arrived, she found it difficult to trust them, since the criminals had been impersonating officers.
The robbery remains a deeply traumatic event for Kardashian, but she has since focused on forgiveness and healing. She continues to advocate for improvements in the criminal justice system to support victims, the innocent, and those seeking redemption.
