It was a robbery that made headlines beyond the celebrity sphere. In the early hours of 3 October 2016, while the Paris Fashion Week was in full swing, burglars burst into a private mansion. The location was not chosen at random, it was where global star Kim Kardashian was staying. She was threatened with a firearm and tied up, the then-wife of Kanye West was stripped of her jewellery for a total haul of over 10 million dollars.
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Among the items the robbers coveted was an impressive 18.8 carat engagement ring worth 4.5 million dollars. For several months, the authorities conducted an investigation to find the criminals, who were identified on the surveillance camera footage of the mansion.
Twelve of them were arrested between January 2017 and 2018. They included seasoned crooks who were no novices.
Ten people aged between 35 and 78 before the courts
From Monday 28 April 2025, these ‘grandpa robbers’, as they have been nicknamed by journalist Patricia Tourancheau, in her book Kim et les papys braqueurs, appeared in court for their trial, which is expected to last until 23 May 2025. In all, ten people out of the twelve, aged between 35 and 78 will be tried. One of the robbers have passed away, and another has been declared unfit to stand trial. All are being tried as repeat offenders, either as the main perpetrator or as accomplices.
Who are the accused?
Among them is Aomar Aït Khedache, alias ‘Aomar the old man’, aged 68, who is the presumed mastermind of the robbery. Born in 1956 in Algeria, he committed his first burglaries at the age of 14, according to Le Parisien. He was convicted four times, including once for drug trafficking, and has eight years' imprisonment to his name.
His DNA was found on the tape used to bind Kim Kardashian, and he also implicated his son, Harminy Aït Khedache, known as Mimi, in the robbery. He asked Mimi to drive him and some of his accomplices in a black Peugeot 508 before and after the robbery.
Yunice Abbas, 71 (62 at the time), was also identified through his DNA as one of the lookouts, along with Pierre Bouianère, known as Pierrot, a retired tiler, and Marc-Alexandre Boyer, 36.
Didier Dubreucq, nicknamed ‘Blue Eyes’, who spent 23 years in prison, is thought to be the second bandit who entered the American star's bedroom with Aomar Aït Khedache.
The ten people on trial from Monday 28 April 2025 also include several informers, including the main one, Gary Madar, 35. He is none other than the brother of Michaël Madar, one of Kim Kardashian's regular chauffeurs during her stays in Paris, and whose schedule he knew.
Florus Héroui, 52, known as ‘Flo’, a friend of Christiane Glotin, known as Cathy, now 78, who has been Aomar Aït Khedache's partner since 2012, François Delaporte, 62, known as ‘le grand’, Marc Boyer, Marc-Alexandre's father, are also implicated as informers and for having put the robbers in contact with each other. All face life imprisonment.
This article has been translated from Femme Actuelle.
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Sources used:
Le Parisien: Braquage de Kim Kardashian : Aomar, « Flo », « Cathy », « Yeux bleus »... les papys gangsters devant les assises
The Guardian: Kim Kardashian robbery suspects appear in Paris court as trial begins
