Yunice Abbas, a key defendant in the trial of ten individuals accused of robbing Kim Kardashian at gunpoint in Paris in 2016, has expressed remorse for the trauma inflicted on the reality star and business mogul. Speaking before a jury on Tuesday, Abbas, now 72, said, "I regret it, not because I got caught, but because there was a trauma," marking the first time he has acknowledged the emotional impact on Kardashian despite his long criminal history.
Abbas, who has admitted his involvement and authored a 2021 book titled I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian, clarified during testimony that he was not responsible for restraining Kardashian but instead acted as a lookout downstairs during the heist. The robbery occurred during Paris Fashion Week when five armed men, disguised as police officers, invaded Kardashian’s hotel suite, tied her up with zip ties and duct tape, and stole approximately $9 million worth of jewelry-including her $4 million engagement ring from then-husband Kanye West.
Known as part of the so-called “grandpa robbers” due to their advanced ages, Abbas and his nine co-defendants face charges ranging from direct participation in the armed robbery and kidnapping to complicity. The trial, which began recently in Paris, has drawn significant attention nearly nine years after the crime.
Abbas recounted his extensive criminal past, including nearly 20 years in prison for various offenses, and expressed unease about the events of that night. Battling Parkinson’s disease, his trembling hands were visible during testimony as he apologized, stating, "I can't do anything besides apologize."
The trial is ongoing, with Kardashian expected to testify later in May, as the court examines the details of the daring heist that left the celebrity traumatized and shocked the world.