Paris Jewelry Heist Trial Begins: Kim Kardashian’s $24K Necklace

The highly publicized trial involving ten suspects linked to the multimillion-dollar jewelry robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris during 2016 has commenced this week. This incident remains one of the most notorious robberies in recent history, and today, three of the accused took to the stand to provide their testimonies regarding this sensational case.

Two of the elderly suspects, humorously nicknamed the “Grandpa Robbers,” testified on Tuesday. These individuals, aged in their 60s and 70s, included one who authored a book detailing his experience titled “I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian.” Their accounts shed light on the planning and execution of the robbery, offering a chilling perspective on the events as they unfolded.

Yunice Abbas, the 71-year-old author and alleged participant in the robbery, took the stand first. He recounted the chaotic moments of fleeing the crime scene on a bicycle. In his hasty escape, he fell and dropped a bag filled with stolen jewelry, causing several valuable gems to spill out onto the street. Notably, he left behind a luxurious $24,000 diamond necklace, which was later discovered by an unsuspecting pedestrian. This individual wore the necklace to work that day, blissfully unaware of its dubious origins until news of the robbery broke, at which point he promptly reported it to the authorities, as BBC News has reported.

In a harrowing recount of events, it’s important to remember that Kim was robbed in her rented apartment at the luxurious Hôtel de Pourtalès around 3 AM on October 3, 2016, during the bustling Paris Fashion Week. Dressed as police officers and wearing masks, the two bandits successfully overpowered a security guard, subsequently binding Kim’s hands and feet before leaving her confined in the bathtub. The assailants made off with approximately million worth of jewelry, including a stunning $4 million diamond engagement ring gifted to her by her then-husband, Kanye West.

At the time of the robbery, Kim was alone in her hotel room. Prosecutors allege that three accomplices acted as lookouts in the reception area of the hotel while two other men proceeded upstairs to commit the robbery. A total of eleven individuals, including one woman, are implicated in planning and executing this audacious crime, and tragically, one of the suspects has already passed away.

Gary Madar, the youngest defendant at only 35 years old, faced questioning on Tuesday regarding his alleged involvement in the heist. He stands accused of having tipped off the gang about Kim’s whereabouts during her stay in Paris. His brother previously worked as a driver and provided various transportation services for the Kardashian family, including just ahead of Kim and Kanye’s lavish 2014 wedding in Italy. At the time of the robbery in 2016, Gary was employed by Kourtney Kardashian, but he firmly denies any participation in the robbery.

Marc Boyer, a 78-year-old defendant implicated in the heist, was also interrogated. He discussed the troubling influence of crime on his family life, revealing that his own son is also entangled in this criminal case. Marc has confessed to being one of the lookouts during the robbery, which adds another layer of complexity to the case as the prosecution seeks to unravel the conspiracy behind this audacious crime.