A group of pensioners dubbed the ‘grandpa robbers’ by French media are on trial in Paris charged with stealing Kim Kardashian’s jewels during Paris Fashion Week in 2016
Kim Kardashian was in a state of “serious terror” when armed gunmen burst into her hotel suite in 2016, a court has been told. A group of pensioners dubbed the ‘grandpa robbers’ by French media are on trial in Paris charged with stealing the mum-of-four’s jewels during Paris Fashion Week in 2016.
Hundreds of extra police and gendarmes were mobilised around the historic Palais de Justice in the centre of the French capital, where the 44-year-old American reality TV star was due on Tuesday afternoon.
She is the lead civil party speaking on behalf of the prosecution in the trial of nine men and one woman who allegedly made up the gang behind the armed attack in 2016.
In the terrifying robbery, the masked gang, whose ages range from 35 to 78, bound and gagged the SKIMS founder, 44, before stealing £7.5 million of jewellery, which was never recovered. Kim’s engagement ring from her then-husband, Kanye West, was among the items taken. Hotel receptionist, Abderrahmane Ouatiki, 48, who was handcuffed and forced at gunpoint to lead two armed robbers to Kim’s hotel room, told the court: “She was terrified, in a state of hysteria.”
READ MORE: What really happened the night Kim Kardashian was bound, gagged and robbed of £8m diamonds
Ouatiki said that when the men burst into the star’s bedroom, Kim, who will testify on Tuesday (May 13) began screaming that she was a mother. “She was in serious terror; it was unbearable to see a woman in that type of distress,” he told the Paris court.
Ouatiki, who is Algerian, was working alone the night of the robbery on the reception desk of an exclusive apartment building in the French capital, known as a ‘no address’ site, where the rich and famous visiting Paris often rented the swanky suites.
Ouatiki said that after 2am he saw three masked men “with police jackets on” approach the glass door to reception and gesture to him to open up. Thinking they were police officers, he opened the door.
“They pushed me to my knees and said: ‘We’re here for the money’,” he told the court. He said they handcuffed him and held another gun to his neck as they asked him: “Where is the rapper’s wife?” He knew that meant Kim.
The robbers took Ouatiki in the lift with them to Kim’s apartment, he told the court. As they approached her bedroom, Ouatiki said Kardashian called out “Hello? Hello?” thinking it might be her older sister Kourtney Kardashian returning from a nightclub.
He said the robbers burst into the room and roughly pushed Kim.
Ouatiki said The Kardashians star was shouting and hysterical. Concerned the lead robber was “very nervous, unstable, aggressive”, Ouatiki said he felt he had to “calm things down and contain it” so he shouted at Kim to “shut up!”.
He said the robbers were asking in French for money. Ouatiki, still with a gun held at his head, tried to translate. Kim said she had “a thousand” – either in dollars or euros. He said she gave the robbers the ring that was on a bedside table. She then nodded towards a Louis Vuitton jewellery box, the robbers allegedly opened it and tipped its valuable contents into two bags.
Kim was then roughly pushed on to the bed by the lead robber who tied her hands and feet and put black tape over her mouth, Ouatiki said.
The lead judge asked Ouatiki if he thought Kim feared for her life He said: “Yes.” He said he also feared he would die.
Ten suspects, whose ages range from 35 to 78, are on trial until 23 May. Some are accused of aiding in the organisation of the robbery. Eight of the accused deny any involvement.
They include Aomar Aït Khedache, 69, and the alleged ringleader, who has publicly admitted kidnapping and robbing Ms Kardashian.
The other gang member who has confessed is Yunnis Abbas, 72, who has written a book called I kidnapped Kim Kardashian.
The trial continues, and verdicts are expected towards the end of May.
