Aomar Aït Khedache, whom prosecutors claimed masterminded the armed robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris nearly a decade ago, was found guilty of the crime by a Paris court on Friday. Seven men and one woman were found guilty at the conclusion of the trial, according to The New York Times; one defendant was acquitted while another was found guilty but cleared of involvement in the robbery.
In October 2016, robbers dressed as policemen entered a hotel, overpowered a nightwatchman, and used his keys to enter Kardashian’s room. After bursting in with guns drawn, they bound her hands and gagged her mouth. They took a box containing approximately $6 million in jewels and Kardashian’s $4.5 million wedding ring. They left her locked in a bathroom, absconding with her cell phone and wallet.
Khedache, 69, was unable to speak during the trial because of an illness, according to CNN. The judge wrote the verdict on a screen for him to read.
Those found guilty face sentences of three to eight years, depending on the charge, which ranges from direct involvement in the crime to complicity with it, according to the Times. The sentences were either mostly suspended or entirely suspended because of the defendants’ ages, who have been nicknamed the “grandpa robbers” because they’re in their 60s and 70s.
David De Pas, the judge overseeing the trial, acknowledged that the sentences were “lenient.” But he added, “You did harm.”
“I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case,” Kardashian said in a statement, according to NBC News. “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.”
Kardashian testified as much earlier this month. “I absolutely did think I was going to die,” she told the court. She also said she didn’t immediately understand what was transpiring. “I didn’t get what was happening, and I didn’t get it was about my jewelry, even though they specifically asked for my ring,” she said. Once it set in, she told the court she was worried the men would rape her, since she was wearing only a bathrobe, but they didn’t.
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The incident left her with trauma and a “phobia of going out,” she said, in the event people “see me out and know my home was empty.” She added that she’s unable to sleep now without knowing she has multiple bodyguards looking out for her.
While in court, Kardashian addressed Khedache, who had sent her a letter after his 2017 arrest. “I do appreciate the letter for sure,” she said. “I do appreciate it. I forgive you. But it doesn’t change the emotion, the feelings and the trauma and the way my life has changed.”
