Inside the Kim Kardashian Robbery: A Trial Unravels the Thieves’ Comical and Costly Mistakes

Nearly a decade after the headline-grabbing robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris, ten individuals, dubbed the “grandpa robbers” by French media due to their age, are set to stand trial for the crime. The case, a mix of audacious planning and comical blunders, revolves around a heist where a group of older criminals targeted Kardashian’s jewelry, unaware of the full extent of her fame and wealth.

Yunice Abbas, a 62-year-old career criminal saw the Kardashian robbery as his final act before retirement. On the night of October 2-3, 2016, Abbas and four accomplices, disguised as police officers and armed with a gun, infiltrated Kardashian’s discreet suite in the Hotel de Pourtalès in Paris. After threatening and handcuffing the night receptionist, Abderrahmane Ouatiki, they forced him to lead them to Kardashian’s room.

Kardashian, exhausted from attending Paris Fashion Week events, was resting in her bed when she heard the commotion. Frantic, she attempted to call for help, but was interrupted by the men bursting into her room. Demanding “the ring,” the robbers, with Ouatiki acting as an interpreter due to the language barrier, quickly located and bagged the $4 million engagement ring gifted to Kardashian by her then-husband and rapper Kanye West, along with all her jewellery worth about $10m.

The ordeal took a frightening turn when one of the men grabbed Kardashian, leading her to believe she would be sexually assaulted. However, instead, the robber used zip ties and duct tape to bind her in the bathroom, employing a technique known as “saucissonnage” (tying victims like a salami). The robbers then fled the scene on bikes and on foot.

After freeing herself, Kardashian gave a statement to the French police and returned to the United States. It wasn’t until later that day that Abbas, watching the news with his wife, realized the identity of their victim and the magnitude of their score.

While Abbas and another defendant, 68-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, have confessed to their involvement, others maintain their innocence. One defendant has since passed away, and another, aged 81, will be excused from the trial due to advanced dementia. The trial promises to shed light on the planning, execution, and aftermath of the infamous Kim Kardashian robbery, revealing a story of seasoned criminals, mistaken identities, and the high price of fame.

Source:BBC