Latest news with #Khedache
See - Sada Elbalad
24-05-2025
- See - Sada Elbalad
Verdict Announced in Kim Kardashian Heist Trial
Yara Sameh Eight people were found guilty on Friday after US reality TV star Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint of millions of dollars' worth of jewellery in Paris nearly a decade ago. The four who took part in the heist were given sentences of up to eight years, mostly suspended, and they will not return to prison because of time served, while two people were acquitted. Nine men and one woman were accused of carrying out or aiding the armed burglary of $10 million worth of jewellery, including a diamond engagement ring, during Paris Fashion Week in 2016. "The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family," Kardashian said in a statement after the verdicts. "While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all." Kardashian's lawyers said in a statement, "looks forward to putting this tragic episode behind her, as she continues working to improve the criminal justice system on behalf of victims, the innocent and the incarcerated seeking to redeem themselves". On the night between 3 and 4 October 2016, as Kardashian was in her room at the Hotel de Pourtales in central Paris, a gang of men made their way into the building. DNA evidence for Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, and Yunice Abbas, 71, placed them at the scene of the crime, and the two have admitted their involvement. Khedache, who is now disabled, deaf and mute, was sentenced to eight years in prison, five of which were suspended. Due to time already served, he will not return to prison, like all the others convicted. Abbas, who has Parkinson's disease and recently underwent heart surgery, was sentenced to seven years' jail with five suspended, alongside Didier Dubreucq. The fourth member of the robbery gang, Marc-Alexandre Boyer, 35, was given the same sentence. With most of those convicted now in their 60s and 70s, the group has been dubbed the "Grandpa robbers" by French media. But since the beginning of the trial in April, both prosecutors and civil parties have vigorously pushed back against notions that the robbers were harmless. Prosecutor General Anne-Dominique Merville had urged the jury not to be swayed by their age and health conditions, describing the defendants as "seasoned robbers" when they carried out the heist. But the sentences handed out were much lower than prosecutors were seeking. "The sentences are quite lenient; I understand that you understand that you have caused harm," Judge David De Pas told the defendants as he delivered the verdicts. He said that "the state of health of the main protagonists ethically prohibits incarcerating anyone. It would have been unjust to take you to prison this evening." Kardashian told the court earlier this month that she forgave Khedache after receiving a letter of apology from him. "I do appreciate the letter for sure. I do appreciate it, I forgive you," she said. What happened during the heist? During the trial, Kardashian recounted the events of that evening. She said she retired to her hotel room at around 03:00 when two masked gunmen wearing police uniforms burst in, dragging with them the hotel's receptionist, who had been bound and gagged. She managed to call her bodyguard before one of the men took her phone from her. They snatched her engagement ring, which had been lying on the bedside table, and then "picked me up off the bed and grabbed me and took me down the hallway to look for more jewellery". One of the men held a gun to her back, and she was thrown onto the bed, her hands bound with zip ties. At this point, she told the concierge, "Please translate to them that I have babies, I have to make it home." One of the men then pulled her towards him, which opened her robe, under which she wasn't wearing anything. She told the court she was afraid she was going to be raped, but then her legs were tied together. A gun was pointed at her, and she said she believed she was going to die. The robbers then took the jewellery and dashed out of the suite, leaving Kardashian in the bathroom. After managing to free herself with the help of her friend and stylist Simone Harouche, she ran out onto the balcony to call for help. Kardashian said she was worried the men would return, and that when Parisian police turned up, she couldn't trust them because the robbers had also been wearing police uniforms. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
Roya News
24-05-2025
- Roya News
Kim Kardashian's Paris robbers found guilty
Eight individuals have been convicted in connection with the high-profile armed robbery of US reality star Kim Kardashian during Paris Fashion Week in 2016. The verdict, delivered Friday by a French court, found that the group was responsible for stealing over USD 10 million worth of jewelry from Kardashian, including her diamond engagement ring. Four of those convicted were directly involved in the heist and received prison sentences of up to eight years — most of which were suspended. Due to time already served and health considerations, none of them will return to prison. Two defendants were acquitted. "The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family," Kardashian said in a statement following the ruling. "While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all." The armed robbery took place during the early hours of Oct. 3, 2016, when Kardashian was staying at the Hotel de Pourtales in central Paris. Dressed in police uniforms, the attackers forced their way into her private suite after subduing the hotel receptionist. Kardashian was held at gunpoint, tied up, and locked in the bathroom as the assailants fled with a trove of high-value jewelry. DNA evidence linked Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, and Yunice Abbas, 71, to the crime scene. Both men admitted their involvement. Khedache, who is now deaf, mute, and physically disabled, received an eight-year sentence, five of which were suspended. Abbas, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and recently underwent heart surgery, was sentenced to seven years, with five suspended. Two others, Didier Dubreucq and Marc-Alexandre Boyer, 35, received similar sentences. With several defendants in their 60s and 70s, French media dubbed the group the 'Grandpa robbers,' a label that prosecutors and civil parties strongly rejected. Prosecutor General Anne-Dominique Merville urged the court to look past their age, describing them as 'seasoned robbers' at the time of the crime. Judge David De Pas acknowledged the seriousness of the offense but issued more lenient sentences than prosecutors had requested. 'The sentences are quite lenient; I understand that you understand that you have caused harm,' he said during the verdict. 'The state of health of the main protagonists ethically prohibits incarcerating anyone... It would have been unjust to take you to prison this evening.' Earlier this month, Kardashian testified that she had received an apology letter from Khedache. 'I do appreciate the letter for sure. I do appreciate it, I forgive you,' she told the court. In her testimony, Kardashian recalled being terrified during the ordeal. Two masked men forced their way into her suite, dragged her out of bed, and tied her up. At one point, she feared she would be raped or killed. 'Please translate to them that I have babies, I have to make it home,' she recalled telling the hotel concierge. After the intruders fled, Kardashian freed herself with the help of her friend and stylist, Simone Harouche, and managed to call for help. She said she remained fearful even when police arrived, uncertain whether she could trust them, given that the robbers had impersonated law enforcement. Her legal team later released a statement saying Kardashian 'looks forward to putting this tragic episode behind her, as she continues working to improve the criminal justice system on behalf of victims, the innocent and the incarcerated seeking to redeem themselves.'
STV News
24-05-2025
- STV News
Kim Kardashian trial: Eight found guilty in 2016 robbery at gunpoint in Paris
Defence attorneys asked the court for leniency, citing the defendants' age and health. But prosecutors insist that criminal experience, not frailty, defined the gang, ITV News Entertainment Reporter Rishi Davda explains Eight people have been found guilty over the 2016 robbery of Kim Kardashian, who was tied up at gunpoint in her Paris hotel room as thieves stole £4.7 million in jewellery. Nearly a decade after one of the most daring celebrity heists in modern French history, a Paris court delivered its verdict on Friday evening, clearing two of the 10 defendants. Aomar Aït Khedache, 69, a convicted veteran of Paris's criminal underworld and the alleged ringleader, was one of the eight who were found guilty. He received the toughest sentence: eight years in prison, with five suspended. Three others facing the most serious charges were each given seven years, also with five suspended. With time already served in pretrial detention, none of those found guilty will return to prison, and all walked free. The trial was heard by a panel of three judges and six jurors. Despite this, the chief judge said that Kardashian had been traumatised by the robbery in her hotel during Fashion Week in 2016. 'You caused harm,' the judge said. 'You caused fear.' Kardashian, who wasn't present for the verdict, said in a statement issued afterwards that she was 'deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case'. 'The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system.' Khedache's DNA, found on the zip-ties used to bind Kardashian, cracked open the case. Wiretaps captured him giving orders, recruiting accomplices, and arranging to sell the diamonds in Belgium. The loot was never found. He claims he was only a foot soldier. He blamed a mysterious 'X' or 'Ben' – someone prosecutors say never existed. Khedache asked for 'a thousand pardons,' communicated via a written note, according to French media. Other defendants also expressed remorse for the robbery. The accused became known in France as 'les papys braqueurs' – the grandpa robbers. Some arrived in court in orthopaedic shoes, and one leaned on a cane. Some read the proceedings from a screen, hard of hearing and nearly mute. But prosecutors warned observers not to be seduced by soft appearances. Kardashian's testimony earlier this month was the emotional high point. In a packed courtroom, she recounted how she was thrown onto a bed, zip-tied, and had a gun pressed to her on the night of Oct. 2, 2016. 'I absolutely did think I was going to die,' she said. 'I have babies. I have to make it home. They can take everything. I just have to make it home.' She was dragged into a marble bathroom and told to stay silent. When the robbers fled, she freed herself by scraping the tape on her wrists off against the sink, then she hid with her friend, shaking and barefoot. She said Paris had once been her sanctuary – a city she would wander at 3 a.m., window shopping, stopping for hot chocolate. That illusion was shattered. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. The robbery echoed far beyond the City of Light. It forced a recalibration of celebrity behaviour in the digital age. For years, Kardashian had curated her life like a showroom: geo-tagged, diamond-lit, public by design. But this was the moment the showroom turned into a crime scene. In her words, 'People were watching… They knew where I was.' Afterwards, she stopped posting her location in real time. She stripped her social media feed of lavish gifts and vanished from Paris for years. Other stars followed suit. Privacy became a luxury. Defence attorneys asked the court for leniency, citing the defendants' age and health. But prosecutors insist that criminal experience, not frailty, defined the gang. Even for France's painstakingly thorough legal system, observers commented about how long it took for the case to be tried. Kardashian, who once said, 'this experience really changed everything,' hopes the verdict will offer a measure of closure. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know… Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Epoch Times
24-05-2025
- Epoch Times
8 Found Guilty in Kim Kardashian's Paris Robbery Case
Nearly nine years after Kim Kardashian was bound, gagged, and robbed at gunpoint in a Paris hotel, a French court has found the ringleader and seven accomplices guilty in the high-profile 2016 heist. None of those convicted will serve additional prison time. On Friday, a three-judge panel and six jurors delivered their verdict in a packed Paris courtroom. Eight men, including 69-year-old ringleader Aomar Aït Khedache, were found guilty of charges ranging from armed robbery and kidnapping to gang association. Two of the 10 defendants were acquitted. Sentences varied: Khedache received eight years in prison, but five years were suspended, while three others got seven years, five of them suspended. With time already served in pretrial detention, none will return to jail. Chief Judge David De Pas cited the advanced ages of the defendants—some in their 60s and 70s, the oldest at 79—and the nine-year gap between the crime and the trial as factors in the court's leniency. 'You caused harm. You caused fear,' De Pas told the defendants. The robbery occurred in the early hours of Oct. 3, 2016, as Kardashian was in Paris for Fashion Week. Dressed as police officers, the assailants forced their way into the Hôtel de Pourtalès, where Kardashian was staying. Related Stories 5/13/2025 4/28/2025 They zip-tied her, held her at gunpoint, and made off with an estimated $10 million in jewelry, including a $4 million engagement ring. Most of the stolen items remain missing. Kardashian, who was 35 at the time, described the ordeal in detail during her testimony earlier this month. 'I absolutely did think I was going to die,' she told the court. 'I have babies. I have to make it home. They can take everything. I just have to make it home.' She recounted being thrown onto a bed, zip-tied, and dragged into a marble bathroom, terrified she would never see her children again. After the robbers fled, Kardashian managed to free herself by scraping the tape from her wrists against the sink and hid with her friend, stylist Simone Harouche, until help arrived. The trauma of the robbery has left deep scars. Kardashian told the court she can no longer sleep without multiple security personnel at home. 'Now I have between four and six security [personnel] at home for me to feel safe. I can't sleep at night if there aren't multiple security people,' she said. Paris, once a sanctuary for Kardashian, became a place associated with fear and loss, she said. 'Paris was always a place that I loved so much. I used to walk around the city when I woke up in the middle of the night. I always felt very safe,' she recalled. Forgiveness and Closure Despite the trauma, Kardashian has chosen forgiveness. During the trial, Khedache, who can no longer speak, sent Kardashian a letter of apology, which was read aloud in court. 'I do appreciate the letter, I forgive you,' Kardashian responded. 'But it doesn't change the feelings and the trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed.' Khedache replied, 'Your forgiveness is a sunshine that has enlightened me ... I am forever grateful.' Kardashian said that testifying was a step toward closure. 'This is my closure. This is me putting this hopefully to rest, after being able to see everyone and thank the French judiciary system for figuring out this investigation,' she said. Kardashian, who was not present for the verdict, issued a statement: 'I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case. The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system.' A New Chapter The verdict comes as Kardashian marks a new milestone in her life: completing a legal apprenticeship and becoming eligible for the California bar exam. Inspired by her late father, attorney Robert Kardashian, she has become an advocate for criminal justice reform, channeling her experience into efforts to help others. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From
LeMonde
23-05-2025
- LeMonde
A Paris court finds Kim Kardashian's robbers guilty, though none will serve time in prison
A Paris court on Friday, May 23, found the ringleader and seven other people guilty in the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian, but decided to keep them out of jail for their roles in what she described as "the most terrifying experience of my life." The chief judge, David De Pas, said that the defendants' ages − the oldest is 79 and some others are in their 60s and 70s − weighed on the court's decision to impose sentences that he said "aren't very severe." He said that the nine years between the robbery and the trial were also taken into account in not imposing harsher sentences. The court acquitted two of the 10 defendants. Aomar Aït Khedache, 69, the ringleader, got the stiffest sentence: eight years imprisonment but five of those were suspended. Three others got seven years, five of them suspended. Three more got prison sentences ranging from five to three years, mostly or completely suspended, and an eighth person was found guilty on a weapons charge and fined. With time already served in pretrial detention, none of those found guilty will go to prison and all walked out free. The trial was heard by a three-judge panel and six jurors. Still, the chief judge said that Kardashian had been traumatized by the October 2, 2016, robbery in her hotel during Fashion Week. "You caused harm," the judge said. "You caused fear." Kardashian, who wasn't present for the verdict, said in a statement issued afterward that she was "deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case. The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system." Khedache's walking stick clicked on the courthouse's marble floors as he walked out free. His DNA, found on the bands used to bind Kardashian, was a key breakthrough that helped crack open the case. Wiretaps captured him giving orders, recruiting accomplices and arranging to sell the diamonds in Belgium. Forgiveness Khedache had said he was only a foot soldier. He blamed a mysterious "X" or "Ben" − someone prosecutors say never existed. His lawyer pleaded for clemency, pointing to one of the trial's most visceral moments − Kardashian's earlier courtroom encounter with the man accused of orchestrating her ordeal. Though she wasn't present Friday, her words − and the memory of that moment − still echoed. "She looked at him when she came, she listened to the letter he had written to her, and then she forgave him," said lawyer Franck Berton. Kardashian, typically shielded by security and spectacle, had locked eyes with Khedache as the letter was read aloud. "I do appreciate the letter, I forgive you," she said. "But it doesn't change the feelings and the trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed." A tabloid crime had become something raw and human. Khedache on Friday asked for "a thousand pardons," communicated via a written note in court. Other defendants also used their final words to express remorse.
