Eight members of the “grandpa robbers” who stole $10 million worth of Kim Kardashian’s jewelry in a 2016 heist have been found guilty by a Paris court.
Among the guilty was the group’s ringleader, Aomar Aït Khedache, who received an eight-year prison sentence with five years suspended on Friday, per the Associated Press.
Three other members of his crew were sentenced to seven years with five years suspended.
10 defendants were charged in connection to the robbery. However, two of the defendants — both of whom were considered informants that allegedly passed on Ms Kardashian’s activity during Paris Fashion Week to the gang — were acquitted.
Due to the group’s members already having served some time behind bars in pretrial detention, none of those found guilty will be sent to prison.
The outlet also notes that the judge was lenient in the group’s sentencing due to their ages, as most of its members are in their 60s and 70s.
Kardashian, 44, responded to Friday’s verdict in a statement obtained by Page Six, expressing her gratitude for the French authorities for “pursuing justice” in her 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,” the statement reads.
Kardashian’s legal team, which included Michael Rhodes, Léonor Hennerick, and Jonathan Mattout, also shared a statement.
“Kim appreciates the Court’s decision and once again thanks the French authorities for treating her with great respect throughout the process. It has been a long journey from that terrible night back in 2016 to her standing courageously in a historic Paris courtroom to confront these criminals,” the message reads.
“She 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.”
Kardashian was not in the French courthouse for the verdict delivery, but the Skims founder made the trip to Paris earlier this month where she divulged the harrowing details of the robbery in her testimony against the group during the trial.
“He grabs my legs and pulls me. I’m naked, and my everything is exposed. I was sure that I was going to be raped,” she said at the time.
She also told the court that she believed her sister Kourtney Kardashian would return to the hotel to find “that I would be dead on the bed, shot dead, and that she should have this memory forever.”
“I absolutely thought I was going to die,” she said.
The incident took place in October 2016 after Kardashian journeyed to the City of Light for Paris Fashion Week.
In her 2020 interview with David Letterman, Kardashian said two robbers entered her room with a handcuffed concierge while she was alone, wearing only a robe.
The two gunmen posed as cops gagged her and tied her up and left her in the bathtub before taking off with $10 million worth of jewelry, including the $4 million upgraded wedding ring the reality star received from her then-husband, Kanye West, earlier that year.
After begging for her life, the robbers left her room. At which point, the “Kardashian” star was able to break free from the bindings and seek help.
The post Verdict announced in Kim Kardashian jewelry heist trial appeared first on Page Six.
