Eight years after the shocking Paris heist that left Kim Kardashian West traumatised and the world in disbelief, ten suspects are now standing trial in France over the 2016 robbery that saw the reality TV star robbed of over $10 million worth of jewellery.
The high-profile trial, which began on Monday, April 29, 2025, in a Paris court, brings back into focus one of the most brazen robberies in recent French history.
Kardashian, who is expected to testify on May 13, was held at gunpoint, tied up, and gagged in her luxury hotel suite during Paris Fashion Week in the early hours of October 3, 2016.
The suspects, mostly aged between 60 and 74, include men with notorious reputations and underworld nicknames such as “Old Omar” and “Blue Eyes,” evoking the era of old-school French gangsters.
Many of them have previous criminal records, and prosecutors allege they orchestrated the heist with meticulous planning.
Investigators say the group was tipped off about Kardashian’s whereabouts and knew exactly when her bodyguard would be away — escorting her sister Kourtney to a nightclub.
“This was a professional job, no doubt. The kind you only see in movies,” said a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation.
Kim Kardashian, who was 35 at the time, had been in Paris for the fashion season and was staying at an exclusive luxury residence in the 8th arrondissement, a favorite of global celebrities.
Around 3 a.m., two masked men disguised as police officers entered her suite, brandished weapons, and demanded her jewellery.
The robbers shouted for the diamond ring gifted by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West — a piece she had recently flaunted on Instagram. That ring alone was estimated to be worth $4 million.
“They kept saying, ‘The ring, the ring!’” Kardashian recounted in an earlier interview. “I thought I was going to die. I was begging them not to hurt me.” The ordeal lasted about ten minutes.
By the time her bodyguard returned, the thieves had vanished with a collection of jewellery estimated at $10 million in value. Only one item was recovered — a diamond necklace that one suspect had dropped on the street while fleeing.
Investigators cracked the case three months later, relying on DNA evidence found at the scene. Several suspects were apprehended across France and parts of Belgium.
At the time of arrest, authorities seized large amounts of cash, but the bulk of the stolen jewellery had already disappeared. According to officials, the gold was likely melted down, and much of the stolen haul was sold in Antwerp, a hub for the diamond trade.
The court proceedings will also focus on the role Kardashian’s social media presence may have played in the crime.
Her constant updates about her location, her jewellery, and her lavish lifestyle possibly aided the perpetrators in pinpointing the best time to strike.
“This case is a warning to celebrities,” said legal analyst Fabienne Leclerc. “Social media is a window into your life. And sometimes, the wrong people are watching.”
Spotify-like streaming services and fashion brands have closely followed the trial, not just because of Kardashian’s status as an influencer but also because of how the case spotlights the vulnerabilities of public figures.
Her testimony is expected to draw enormous global attention, and French prosecutors hope it will help drive home the seriousness of crimes against individuals, even amid today’s digital fame.
As the trial unfolds, the public is reminded of how the glitz and glamour of celebrity life can be pierced in an instant by cold, calculated criminality.
The French justice system now faces the task of delivering accountability in a case that continues to resonate worldwide.
Twelve individuals were originally charged in connection with the infamous 2016 robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris, but only ten have made it to trial, which officially began on Monday.
One of the accused died in March this year, while another will face trial separately due to ongoing health issues.
The case has gripped international attention for years, as it involves not only high-profile figures but also a cast of aging suspects with storied criminal backgrounds.
Now, in a courtroom that promises to be as much a theatre of drama as of justice, the trial is set to unfold over several weeks, concluding by May 23.
Among the central figures is 68-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, widely known by his alias “Old Omar.” Speaking about the robbery, he described it not as a complex or violent operation, but as something surprisingly straightforward.
“It wasn’t a major armed robbery,” he said. “It was easy.” Khedache’s DNA was a crucial breakthrough for investigators and ultimately led to the capture of many of the suspects.
Though he has admitted to tying up Kardashian during the heist, he has rejected claims that he was the mastermind.
Instead, he alleges that the idea came from a “sponsor” acting on behalf of someone close to Kardashian herself.
Khedache further claims that this “sponsor” informed him of the star’s whereabouts and routines, including that she was without security at the time of the robbery.
According to his version of events, the so-called insider “gave the green light” for the operation to proceed. “I was just the tool, not the brain,” he stated in one of his written communications, as his lawyer revealed that he now suffers from severe hearing and speaking impairments and is only able to communicate through writing.
These health issues have complicated his ability to fully participate in court proceedings.
Another major figure in the case is Didier Dubreucq, 69, nicknamed “Blue Eyes.” He is accused of being the second man who entered Kardashian’s hotel suite and helped carry out the robbery.
Dubreucq, however, has firmly denied his involvement. Meanwhile, 71-year-old Yunice Abbas allegedly acted as a lookout, staying in the lobby while the robbery took place upstairs.
Abbas has drawn additional scrutiny after publishing a book about the incident titled I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian, a move that many have viewed as a brazen attempt to profit off a crime that left the celebrity victim shaken and humiliated.
Other defendants are accused of playing supporting roles, including serving as lookouts, informants, or providing logistical support.
Among them is Gary Madar, the brother of Kardashian’s trusted Paris driver, who stands accused of leaking her movements to the group — an accusation he strenuously denies.
The defence team has urged that the proceedings be kept serious and measured despite the media frenzy surrounding the case. “This trial must allow for calm debates, not be overshadowed by the media hype,” said Margot Pugliese, one of the defence attorneys.
As the trial unfolds, the court will weigh confessions, denials, and emerging testimony to determine where the truth lies in this shocking chapter of celebrity crime history.
