Kim Kardashian to Testify in Paris Court Over 2016 Armed Robbery

• May 13, 2025

Kim Kardashian is set to testify in a Paris court on Tuesday, nearly a decade after she was robbed at gunpoint during Paris Fashion Week in 2016. The highly anticipated court appearance comes as ten suspects face trial for stealing around $10 million worth of jewellery from the American reality TV star and influencer.

The robbery, described by the French press as the “heist of the century,” took place at a private hotel in central Paris on the night of October 2-3, 2016. Masked men broke into Kardashian’s residence, threatened her with a gun, tied her up, and taped her mouth before stealing her valuable jewellery. Among the stolen items was a diamond ring valued at $3.9 million, a gift from her then-husband, rapper Kanye West. The heist was France's most valuable theft targeting a private individual in 20 years.

Kardashian’s legal team confirmed she is ready to "confront" her attackers and will attend the court session "with dignity and courage." After giving her testimony, she is expected to address the media. The trial has drawn massive attention, with nearly 500 journalists accredited and large crowds anticipated outside the courthouse on Paris’s Ile de la Cité.

Those on trial are mostly men in their 60s and 70s, with past criminal records and nicknames like "Old Omar" and "Blue Eyes," reminiscent of old-school French gangsters. Aomar Ait Khedache, known as “Old Omar,” admitted to tying up Kardashian but denied planning the robbery. Another accused, Yunice Abbas, even wrote a book about the heist, describing his comical escape on a bicycle after his bag of loot got caught in the wheel.

The investigation revealed that Gary Madar, brother of Kardashian’s Paris driver, allegedly tipped off the gang. However, his lawyer dismissed the claim, noting that Kardashian's movements were widely publicized to her 350 million online followers.

Testimony revealed that the robbery could have been avoided if Kardashian had gone clubbing with her sister Kourtney that night, a plan she eventually declined. Her bodyguard, Pascal D., recounted finding Kardashian in a state of shock, crying hysterically after the attack.

Kardashian’s lawyers praised French authorities for their professionalism, saying she is “genuinely grateful” for their handling of the case. Once known mainly for reality TV, Kardashian has since built a global business empire and is regarded as one of the world’s most influential figures, with massive followings on platforms like Instagram and X.