Almost nine years after Kim Kardashian endured a terrifying robbery at gunpoint in Paris, a French court has brought closure by convicting eight of ten suspects in a heist that stole nearly $10 million in jewelry. The 2016 ordeal, which left Kardashian shaken and vulnerable, gripped the world and changed how she lives her life. The trial, wrapping up on Friday, told a story of aging thieves—nicknamed the “grandpa robbers” for their age—and a crime that left deep scars, revealing the human cost of fame.
It happened in the early hours of October 3, 2016, at the Hôtel de Pourtalès, a quiet luxury spot in Paris where Kardashian was staying for Fashion Week. Five men, dressed as police officers and hiding behind ski masks, forced their way past the concierge and into her suite. They tied her up with zip ties and duct tape, pointed a gun at her, and fled with treasures, including a $4 million diamond engagement ring from her then-husband, Kanye West (now Ye). They were gone in six minutes, leaving behind only a diamond cross dropped in their rush. DNA traces led to arrests in January 2017, but for Kardashian, the fear lingered.
The trial in Paris brought ten people—nine men and one woman, most in their 60s and 70s—face-to-face with charges of armed robbery, kidnapping, and aiding the crime. Aomar Aït Khedache, 69, called “Old Omar,” got eight years, with five suspended, though he insisted he wasn’t the mastermind. Yunice Abbas, 71, who stood watch outside and later wrote a book about his role, received seven years, with five suspended. “I’m sorry, not for getting caught, but for hurting her,” Abbas told the court, his voice heavy with regret as he addressed Kardashian. Three others, including Didier “Blue Eyes” Dubreucq, also got seven-year sentences, while Khedache’s son Harminy, a suspected driver, was given five years, four suspended. Christiane Glotin, 79, the lone woman, received a four-year suspended sentence for her part. Two defendants were cleared, and two others from the original 12 didn’t face trial—one had died, another was too sick. With time already served, none will go back to jail.
Kardashian, now 44, took the stand on May 13, her voice breaking as she relived the nightmare. “I thought I was going to die,” she said, describing how a masked robber grabbed her leg as she stood in just a bathrobe, fearing rape or worse. “I kept picturing my sister finding me gone.” She accepted an apology letter from Khedache, read aloud in court, but shared how the robbery changed her: “I don’t feel safe like I used to.” She now travels with a security team and keeps her movements private. Her stylist, Simone Harouche, also testified, her words choked with emotion as she recalled hiding in a bathroom, then finding Kardashian sobbing, desperate for help.
The robbery laid bare the dangers of Kardashian’s very public life, especially her habit of sharing her jewelry and whereabouts online. That 18.88-carat ring, flaunted in photos, likely caught the robbers’ eyes after months of watching her. “They knew exactly where I’d be,” she told the court. The heist also rattled Paris, still healing from terrorist attacks, and raised tough questions about safety for high-profile visitors. People have reacted with a mix of heartbreak for Kardashian’s trauma and fascination with the older criminals’ bold scheme.
The missing jewelry, including that $4 million ring, is still out there, its fate unknown. In a statement, Kardashian said, “I’m thankful to the French authorities for holding these people accountable. That night stays with me, but I’m trying to move forward.” The trial, called the “Rue Tronchet” affair, has left a lasting mark, sparking conversations about the price of fame, the need for security, and the human toll of a crime that shook one woman’s world.
