In Paris, a group of eight French “grandpa robbers” has been declared guilty of the 2016 kidnapping and robbery of Kim Kardashian. The courtroom, filled with a panel of three judges and six jurors, delivered guilty verdicts to all but two of the 10 defendants, consisting of nine men and one woman. The elaborate heist involved binding the famous influencer with zip ties and stealing $9 million worth of her jewelry, including a diamond engagement ring from Ye (then Kanye West).
The defendants, famously known in France as “les papys braqueurs” – the grandpa robbers, were mostly in their late 50s and 60s when they were apprehended by the authorities in the months following the heist. Prosecutors had requested 10-year sentences for the alleged thieves, utilizing evidence such as DNA and wiretaps to solve the case. Despite nearly a decade of court delays, most of the robbers are now in their late 60s and 70s, battling illnesses like cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Kim Kardashian, aged 44 at the time, testified about the traumatic robbery where millions of dollars worth of jewels were taken from her hotel room in Paris in 2016. As she recounted the harrowing experience of being tied up, threatened with a gun, and fearing for her life on the night of October 2, 2016, she appeared resilient in the courtroom. Kardashian expressed her fear for her life, especially as a mother, and her determination to survive for her children. She managed to free herself after the robbers fled by removing the tape from her wrists against the sink, seeking refuge with her friend in a state of shock and barefoot.
The alleged mastermind behind the operation, Aomar Aït Khedache, who is deaf and communicated with the court through written notes, was a seasoned criminal in the Paris underworld. His DNA was discovered on the zip ties used to bind Kardashian, ultimately leading to the unraveling of the case. Wiretaps revealed his involvement in giving instructions, enlisting accomplices, and arranging the sale of the stolen diamonds in Belgium. Despite his plea of being a mere foot soldier and blaming a non-existent figure referred to as “X” or “Ben” by prosecutors, Khedache expressed remorse through a written note, as did other defendants in their final statements.
