Nearly nine years after Kim Kardashian was held at gunpoint in a Paris hotel room during one of the most shocking celebrity robberies in recent history, the reality star, actress and businesswoman is preparing to testify in court.
The highly anticipated trial began April 28 at the Palais de Justice in Paris and has captivated global attention—not just for the scale of the crime, but for the surprising profile of the accused: a group of men between the ages of 60 and 78, quickly dubbed by French media as the "thieving grandfathers."
The harrowing incident took place on October 3, 2016, during Paris Fashion Week. Five masked men stormed Kardashian's private residence, bound and gagged her, and made off with roughly $10 million in jewelry—including a $4 million engagement ring given to her by then-husband Kanye West.
The suspects escaped on bicycles, but left behind DNA evidence that led to the arrest of 17 individuals. Of those, 12 were formally charged, and 10 are now standing trial.
One of the men, 71-year-old Yunice Abbas, has publicly admitted to playing a role in the robbery. In 2021, he co-authored a memoir titled "I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian", a sensational title he now claims was imposed by publishers. During the trial, Abbas insisted he never entered Kardashian's room and merely served as a lookout outside.
Kardashian, now 43, is expected to take the stand to recount the traumatic events of that night—a moment many believe will bring long-awaited closure to a case that left her and her family forever changed.
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.
