Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian

Nine years after the robbery that shocked the entertainment world, Kim Kardashian is preparing to testify at the trial of the ten defendants accused of the armed robbery she suffered in Paris in 2016.

The trial, which began on April 28 at the Palais de Justice in Paris, has captured international attention not only for the magnitude of the crime, but also for the unusual profile of the defendants: men between the ages of 60 and 78, dubbed by the press as the "thieving grandfathers."

On October 3, 2016, during Paris Fashion Week, five men broke into Kardashian's luxury apartment, gagged her, and stole approximately $10 million worth of jewelry, including a $4 million engagement ring given to her by her then-husband, Kanye West.

The thieves fled on bicycles, leaving behind DNA traces that led to the arrest of 17 people, 12 of whom were charged and 10 of whom are currently in court.

Kim's thieves speak out

One of the defendants, Yunice Abbas, 71, has admitted his involvement in the crime and expressed remorse. In 2021, he co-wrote a book titled "I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian," in which he recounts his version of the events. During the trial, Abbas claimed that the title was imposed by the publisher and that he never entered Kardashian's room, but instead stood watch downstairs.

The alleged ringleader, Aomar Aït Khedache, known as "Old Omar," 68, also faces charges of armed robbery and kidnapping. His genetic profile was found on the duct tape used to gag Kardashian. Aït Khedache has admitted to participating in the robbery, although he denies being the mastermind behind the crime.

A third robber, identified as Marceau Baum-Gertner, died a month and a half ago, on March 6, 2025.

Kim Kardashian takes the stand

The trial, which is expected to continue until May 23, has generated significant media interest, with more than 400 accredited journalists attending. Kardashian, 44, is scheduled to testify on May 13.

In previous interviews, the businesswoman has described the assault as the most terrifying moment of her life, fearing for her life and the possibility of never seeing her children again. After that moment, she turned her life around, greatly increasing her security. For years, she limited her activities and stopped wearing expensive jewelry in public.

However, since then, he has also become an activist for prisoners and their rights to rehabilitation. Legal experts wonder how this will affect his standing with the men who harmed him so much.

This case has highlighted how social media exposure can be used by criminals to plan crimes. The thieves reportedly tracked Kardashian's movements through her social media posts, allowing them to learn her location and the absence of her bodyguard at the time of the robbery.

The trial not only seeks to bring justice for the robbery, but also to reflect on the implications of fame and security in the digital age. The story of the "grandfather thieves" and their audacious crime has captured the public's imagination, becoming an emblematic case of how reality can surpass fiction.