The ringleader and seven elderly men dubbed the “grandpa gangsters” who tied up and robbed Kim Kardashian at gunpoint have been found guilty by a Paris court.
A six-member jury, led by three judges, reached a verdict on Friday after just 11 hours of deliberation following a four-week trial at the Palais de Justice.
The court found Aomar Aït Khedache, 69, and seven of his accomplices guilty of crimes connected to robbery of Ms Kardashian, 44, at the Hotel de Pourtalès nearly a decade ago.
These includes charges of armed robbery, kidnapping and gang association.
The French court acquitted two of the 10 defendants, who were considered informants who allegedly passed on the Skims founder’s movement to the gang during Paris Fashion Week.
Mr Khedache — who has numerous convictions for drugs offences and robbery — received eight years imprisonment, suspended for five years.
However, with time already served in pretrial detention, none of the convicted eight will end up in jail.
David De Pas, the chief judge, said the ages of the defendants — the oldest is 79 and some others are in their 60s and 70s — weighed on the court's decision not to impose harsher punishments.
He also told them the entrepreneur had been traumatised by the raid, adding: "You caused harm. You caused fear."
The group were accused of pulling off one of the most audacious burglaries against a celebrity in France.
Dressed as police officers, the gangsters forced their way into the five-star hotel, bound Ms Kardashian with zip-ties and escaped with her expensive goods.
Ms Kardashian lost $10million-worth of jewellery in the raid, including a $4million engagement ring from her ex-husband Kanye West, which has not been recovered.
A diamond-encrusted cross, which dropped during the escape, was the only item recovered and rest is understood to have been sold in Belgium.
During the trial, Ms Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed in the robbery, having been left in her room’s bathtub.
Mr Khedache and Yunice Abbas, 72, who authored a 2021 book called I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian, admitted some part in the robbery, while the remaining eight denied any wrongdoing.
Last week, Khedache begged Ms Kardashian for forgiveness for the pain he caused her in a letter read out in court.
"I do appreciate the letter, I forgive you," she said. "But it doesn't change the feelings and the trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed."
Ms Kardashian, who was not present for the verdict in the French capital, said in a statement: "I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this 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."
Earlier this week, Ms Kardashian revealed she had completed her six-year legal apprenticeship with a California law firm.
