The trial of ten people connected to the infamous 2016 Paris robbery of American reality star Kim Kardashian has begun, nearly nine years after the shocking event. Among them, five men are accused of carrying out the heist, while others are charged as accessories. Known as the “grandpa robbers” due to their age, the gang members — some born in the 1950s — allegedly tied up Kardashian at gunpoint in her luxury suite, stealing $10 million worth of jewellery, including a $4 million engagement ring gifted by Kanye West.
The heist, which took place during Paris Fashion Week, was marked by serious errors on both sides. While Kardashian’s social media posts reportedly made her an easier target, the burglars’ amateur mistakes, including leaving DNA traces and being caught on extensive CCTV surveillance, quickly led to their capture. Yunice Abbas, one of the confessed robbers, later admitted in his memoir that the gang underestimated modern police techniques, and investigators tracked them down within months.
The trial will also delve into how the gang obtained insider information about Kardashian’s whereabouts, with one transportation employee, Gary Madar, accused but denying involvement. Many stolen jewels were believed to have been melted down or sold, but Kardashian’s iconic engagement ring was never recovered. Kardashian, who described the traumatic night as life-altering, is expected to take the stand in mid-May, drawing significant media attention once again.
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