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Kim Kardashian is finally going to testify about being robbed in Paris. How did we get here?

BBG News

Approximately 3,150 days, equivalent to over 8 and a half years, have passed since Kim Kardashian‘s armed robbery in Paris. It’s now Tuesday, and for the first time, she will testify against those suspected of the crime.

By autumn 2016, Kim Kardashian West’s celebrity career had been rapidly advancing across the entertainment industry for years, leaving a trail of impact wherever she went. Her presence was ubiquitous and constant – appearing everywhere, all the time. Her marital life saw changes (marriage, divorce, remarriage), and she welcomed new babies into her family. She made a significant mark on the internet with her popularity. It seemed as though this fame would continue its global journey without end.

World & Nation

A court case is underway in Paris regarding the 2016 robbery where a group of armed individuals, during Fashion Week, bound Kim Kardashian and made off with jewels valued at millions of dollars.

Then came Paris Fashion Week. What could go wrong?

At around dawn on October 3, 2016, the Kim Kardashian train unexpectedly came off the tracks: A group of men broke into Kardashian’s two-story apartment in Paris, carrying guns and zip ties, intending to find valuable jewels. Particularly, they were after Kardashian’s own jewelry, which she had displayed on social media.

What happened in the Paris apartment?

Approximately two hours past midnight, as per local time, it was reported that Kardashian was found asleep in just a robe, in her two-story apartment at Hôtel de Pourtalès. The commotion of footsteps ascending the stairs alerted her to intruders. It later transpired that these men had been led there by the night concierge who claimed he’d been forced at gunpoint. She managed to catch a brief glimpse of two of the intruders, slipped out of bed, and attempted to contact her bodyguard before they seized her phone.

In this rephrased version, the focus is on emphasizing the fear and vulnerability of the victim: The woman was secured with zip ties and duct tape around her wrists, and was forcibly picked up by her ankles. At this moment, she informed the police that she believed she was about to be sexually assaulted. However, rather than carrying out their suspected intentions, her attackers taped her ankles with more duct tape and transported her to the bathtub. As Kardashian cried out for them to take her valuables but save her life, she made this plea because at that point, she was the mother of two young children.

Entertainment & Arts

This past week has been quite an ordeal for Kim Kardashian, as she was held up at gunpoint on Monday morning in her high-end Parisian apartment.

She informed the police that the men didn’t converse in English, instead repeatedly saying “Ring, ring.” Following Kardashian’s disclosure of where to locate the substantial diamond (a recent present from then-spouse Kanye West, which she had been displaying on social media), they secured her mouth with duct tape.

After robbers made off with their loot, leaving Kim Kardashian helpless on the bathroom floor, a friend in a downstairs bedroom was alarmed by the ruckus and phoned her bodyguard. The bodyguard, who had been out partying with sisters Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner at a nearby club, promptly rushed back to the hotel.

Did people believe Kardashian’s story?

Initially, people doubted her story on social media, and some self-proclaimed commentators speculated that she had fabricated the incident for attention. A celebrity magazine was subsequently sued for defamation when it claimed she invented the story, lied about the attack, and filed a false insurance claim. However, the police did not dismiss her account outright due to her apparent distress but instead thoroughly investigated whether it was an inside job (with the night manager and bodyguard set to testify in court).

In a matter of just a few weeks, according to CNN’s report, the defamation case was resolved. The involved website admitted their mistake by retracting the statement and acknowledged that the Kardashians were indeed robbed at gunpoint.

When did authorities arrest and charge the suspects?

On January 10, 2017, a series of raids took place in Paris, leading to the arrest of 17 individuals. Kardashian’s chauffeur was one of those arrested but was later released after questioning. As of 2021, the number of suspects had been reduced to twelve, who were scheduled for trial. Regrettably, one of the suspects has passed away since being questioned, and another has been excused from the trial due to his age (81) and advanced Alzheimer’s disease, according to BBC reports.

Television

In essence, the French press has been labeling the primary suspects as “The Elderly Burglars,” given their advanced years – the oldest defendant is 78. At the time of the robbery, they apparently weren’t familiar with Kardashian. However, it was reported that they were told she was “a rapper’s wife.” Ten individuals are still under investigation for this incident, including a woman. Among them, five entered Kardashian’s apartment during the robbery, while the rest are accused of assisting and abetting.

What have the suspects been doing since then?

In a 2022 interview with a French media outlet, the suspect Yunice Abbas stated that because Kardashian was squandering money, she was present to gather it, and that was the end of the story. She declared herself innocent, but expressed indifference towards the guilt or innocence.

At the age of 71, Abbas, who is among the two individuals with DNA traces discovered at the crime scene, intends to express his apologies once he appears in court. Additionally, he claims that he was not armed and fulfilled a watch duty on the ground floor of the hotel.

In 2022, he shared with Vice that during one of her shows on ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’, he witnessed an incident where she tossed her diamond into a pool. His reaction was, “She’s quite wealthy. It seems like she doesn’t value money at all.

Back in 2017, the individual believed to have orchestrated the plan, Aomar Ait Khedache, penned a letter of apology to Kardashian from his prison cell. In it, he expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged the emotional harm he inflicted. However, he goes by “Old Omar” now, and he’s admitted to being involved in the incident where Kardashian was bound up, but he denies masterminding the operation.

The other suspects, including Ait Khedache’s son Harminy, have maintained their innocence.

What happened to the jewelry?

Approximately $6 million or $10 million in jewelry was taken during a theft, with the exact amount being uncertain due to various conflicting accounts. Kardashian and her former spouse, previously known as Kanye West (now Ye), allegedly filed insurance claims totaling $5.6 million following the incident. To date, only one item has been found: a diamond cross on platinum, which was dropped by the thieves while fleeing on bicycles. This piece was appraised at approximately $33,000 as reported in Vanity Fair.

18.8 carat diamond ring (previously given to Kardashian by Ye) and a yellow gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona were among the items taken, along with seven Cartier and Hermès bracelets and three gold-and-diamond grills, according to VF. A jewelry-theft expert suggested in 2016 that unique pieces, such as the diamond ring’s stone, would likely have been cut up and resold to buyers.

What happens next?

On Tuesday afternoon in Paris (which is approximately 5 a.m. in California), Kardashian is scheduled to testify. According to the New York Post, she will initially face questioning from the judge before her lawyers get a chance, followed by prosecutors, and ultimately the defense attorneys.

As I pen this critique, I find myself reflecting on a recent court case that has kept the media buzzing. Initially set to begin in late April, the trial commenced on the 28th, with a potential conclusion slated for May 23rd. Interestingly enough, a Kardashian legal representative recently confirmed to the Associated Press that our beloved reality matriarch would indeed take the stand. However, until her moment under the spotlight arrives, she has chosen to keep her testimony strictly within the confines of the courtroom and jury, refraining from any further elaboration at this juncture.

That sounds like it’s French for “no comment.”

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2025-05-13 03:01

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