Nine years after the horrific robbery of Kim Kardashian, the case file has been revealed, and 12 suspects are set to appear in court in Paris on April 28 on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery in a gang.
As the trial approaches, investigators have released the case file to the Daily Mail, giving the public a complete look at the shocking 2016 robbery: from the planning, surveillance, and organization of the armed robbery to how the gang divided up the loot and were arrested by the police.
The ringleader and the robbery plan.
The Kim Kardashian jewelry heist took place in the summer of 2016, when Aomar Aït Khedache (aka “Old” Omar), 69, the self-proclaimed ringleader of the heist, received word that an American celebrity who often flaunted her wealth on Instagram would be coming to Paris. At the time, “traditional” criminals were turning to a new form of robbery called “sausage robberies,” which involved following rich people home, “tying them up like sausages,” forcing them to reveal where their valuables were hidden, and then robbing them at gunpoint.
According to the prosecutor, the news about Kardashian came from Florus Héroui, the owner of a bar in Le Marais, a central Paris district that is home to many professional criminals and the wealthy. Héroui is said to have gotten information about Kim Kardashian’s attendance at Paris Fashion Week from Gary Madar, who regularly greets celebrities at Paris Le Bourget airport. Gary Madar is trusted by Kim and has a close relationship with the car company she uses in France.
At the time, “old” Omar was on the run after being arrested on drug charges. He sought refuge with his mistress, Christiane Glotin (aka Cathy, 79). Cathy, who was convicted of drug trafficking in the early 1990s, is believed to have organized the robbery.
In 2016, Cathy, Omar, and other members “looked at pictures of Kim’s jewelry online,” according to an investigator. “Nobody knew who Kim was, but they liked her expensive jewelry,” the investigator said. They also noticed that Kim had said she “never wore fakes.” They were particularly interested in Kim’s $4 million 18.88-carat engagement ring, which Kanye West gave her.
Omar told police that finding Kardashian's address was easy: just follow her Mercedes V-Class to the Hôtel de Pourtalès, near La Madeleine church. Pourtalès, also known as "No Address", is a luxury apartment complex that has hosted Hollywood stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Madonna and Prince.
Intelligence suggested that Kim would be staying alone in the Sky penthouse at Pourtalès, while her staff and family were out.
Carrying out the robbery.
In the early hours of October 3, 2016, three cyclists wearing yellow vests approached the "No Address" hotel. Two others arrived on foot, all wearing masks and police armbands. The group overpowered the sole doorman, Abderrahmane Ouatiki, 39. They pointed a 7.65 mm Mauser gun at Ouatiki's head and led him up to the penthouse, where Kim was lying on the bed in a bathrobe. The 35-year-old mother of two was alone at the time while her bodyguard Pascal Duvier was dancing at the L'Arc club with Kim's sister Kourtney Kardashian.
Kim heard a commotion outside and said "Hello!", but no one answered. "I knew something was wrong," she said.
Two men in police uniforms stormed in with Ouatiki, who was handcuffed. Kardashian tried to call 911 - the US emergency number - but was unsuccessful. Ouatiki recalled: "He put a gun to her head. She was crying, screaming: 'Don't kill me, I have a baby! Take what you want'. She was only wearing a robe, her hair tied back."
The robbers then taped Kim's mouth shut, tied her with plastic ties and locked her in the bathroom. They were in the penthouse for 49 minutes, making off with about $10 million worth of property. As he fled, one of the men dropped a platinum cross studded with diamonds.
Kim Kardashian managed to untie herself and went to the apartment downstairs, where stylist Simone Harouche was hiding in the bathroom. The police were called and took Kardashian's statement before she flew back to the US at 7:40 a.m. Her husband, Kanye West, immediately interrupted his concert in New York to return home for a "family matter".
The police investigation.
The police found two DNA fingerprints on the ropes that bound Kardashian and Ouatiki. They matched the two suspects Omar (Aomar Aït Khedache) and Yunice Abbas, both of whom had criminal records.
Police collected video footage and found several images, including a Peugeot 508 driven by Omar's son Harminy Aït Khedache. Phone expert Christophe Korrell examined 7,591 calls around the area of the robbery and found "disposable" phone numbers belonging to Omar and other suspects, including Didier Dubreucq (nicknamed "Blue Eyes") - the second person to enter the penthouse with Omar. Dubreucq had served 23 years in prison for robbing a post office and smuggling cocaine.
Police tracked the suspects, attaching GPS devices to their cars. At this point, Marceau Baumgertner (nicknamed "Rough Nose") - a dealer in stolen goods - appeared. Baumgertner, 70, was accused of "hiding stolen gold, jewelry and watches". He had traveled to Antwerp with Omar and Christiane Glotin to sell Kim's jewelry. Omar later told police that the gold had been melted down and resold, and that he “didn’t know” where Kim’s ring was.
On December 5, 2016, police tracked the gang “sharing the spoils” at a cafe in the Marais, near where Omar had received the Kardashian news. A month later, on January 9, 2017, police arrested them all.
Omar initially denied the charges, but later confessed when he learned of the DNA evidence and heard that police had his son and lover in custody.
Police records show that a combination of DNA analysis, CCTV, phone taps and geolocation, along with a determined pursuit by detectives, helped nab Omar and his accomplices within two months of the robbery.
Because Kim Kardashian was so traumatised that she could not return to Paris for more than a year, Judge Armelle Briand had to travel to the US to testify. Kardashian told the judge: "I felt like Paris was no longer for me. I remember feeling like my heart was going to fall out of my body. I thought I was going to die."
Kardashian added: "The experience made me realise that the world was no longer safe. My perception of valuables changed. Holding onto expensive things became a burden."
Kim returned to Paris for fashion week in early 2018. At that time, she fired her old bodyguard and hired a new, powerful bodyguard team. The American reality TV star also stopped wearing expensive jewelry to events. It is not yet clear whether Kim Kardashian will come to Paris in April to testify against her attackers.
Twelve suspects, including 11 men and one woman, were arrested, detained, and then released on bail pending trial. Nine years later, most of the key defendants are old and sick, so they were released from high-security prison cells. They will appear in court on April 28 at the Paris Court on charges of "armed robbery in a gang" and "kidnapping".
The reason for the delay in court is said to be because the court is busy trying the terrorists and it is believed that the authorities want this shocking robbery of the American star to calm down for a while so as not to affect tourism in Paris, according to Dailymail.
Identity of the 12 suspects
The five main defendants are charged with "armed robbery in a gang" and "kidnapping":
Aomar Aït Khedache, 69
Nicknamed "Old Omar", he is the self-proclaimed leader of the Omar & Co gang that carried out the Kardashian jewelry heist in October 2016. Aït Khedache, who was first detained for drug-related crimes at the age of 14, was released in April 2020 due to serious health conditions including heart problems. He now lives in the suburbs of Paris and has publicly admitted to kidnapping and robbing Kardashian.
Yunnis Abbas, 72
The suspect has spent at least 20 years in prison and has admitted to acting as a supervisor during the Kardashian robbery. He underwent triple coronary bypass surgery while in prison. Abbas has written a book called I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian. He now lives with his wife, Farida Abbas, in northern Paris.
Didier Dubreucq "Blue Eyes", 69
Didier is believed to be the second robber to enter Kim Kardashian's apartment alongside Omar. He served a 23-year sentence for robbing a post office and importing cocaine into Europe. A heavy smoker, he now has lung cancer and was the first person to be released from prison after being arrested in connection with the Kardashian robbery.
Pierre Bouianère "Big Pierrot", 72
Allegedly one of the "brains of the Kardashian scheme", Pierre now claims to have Alzheimer's disease and lives in Grasse on France's Mediterranean coast. A career criminal and drug trafficker who was arrested in 2006 for possession of two kilos of cocaine, Bouianère told police he was "retired". He is believed to be the robber who dropped Kardashian's jewellery as he fled the Paris hotel.
Marc-Alexandre Boyer "Jr", 36
Boyer, a self-described "dog sitter", was sentenced to six years for drug offences in 2013 but was cleared on appeal and released from prison in July 2016, just three months before the Kardashian robbery. According to police investigations, he boarded the first high-speed train to Nice, southern France, the morning after the robbery. Boyer now lives in Antibes, near Nice.
Seven people have been charged with "complicity", "criminal association" and "concealment" of stolen property:
Christiane Glotin "Cathy", 78
Christiane has been a drug trafficker since the 1990s, living with several prominent figures in the Parisian underworld, including Omar "the Elder". She is believed to have helped organise the Kardashian robbery and travelled to Antwerp to sell the loot. A heavy smoker, she is currently being treated for throat cancer, as well as back and heart problems. Christiane lives in Charenton-le-Pont in the south-eastern suburbs of Paris and is “involved in charity work”, according to close friends.
François Delaporte “Big Guy”, 61
François is a drug dealer and counterfeiter. He is accused of being “associated” with Omar’s gang and of “possessing false official documents”. He is currently working for a construction company in Paris.
Florus Héroui, 52
The bar manager is said to have passed on information about Kim Kardashian’s movements in Paris to Omar. When police raided his apartment after Kardashian’s robbery, they found £120,000 in cash wrapped in a wardrobe, eight mobile phones, a handgun and ammunition. Héroui is said to have exercised his right to remain silent during his detention and is now living with his wife in Paris, complaining of heart problems.
Harminy Aït Khedache, 38
Omar's son, nicknamed "Mimi", is believed to have been the getaway driver on the night of the Kardashian robbery. When police raided his home, they found nine mobile phones, a Beretta pistol and ammunition.
Gary Madar, 34
The dapper VIP hostess used to work for the car company that Kim Kardashian used when she was in Paris. He is said to have provided details of her route to the robbers. Describing Madar as a "nice, easy-going person", Kim Kardashian said: "When we came to Paris, we always looked forward to seeing his familiar face."
Marceau Baumgertner "The Rugged Nose", 70
The recipient of stolen goods from Omar & Co, Marceau was charged with "concealing stolen gold, precious stones and watches". He had previous convictions for money laundering and forgery. Investigators placed a GPS tracker on Marceau's car and determined that he had traveled to Antwerp several times to sell Kim Kardashian's jewelry.
Marc Boyer, 62
Marc Boyer is the father of suspect Marc-Alexandre Boyer. He was charged with "possessing a Class B firearm without a license" - specifically the WWI-era 7.65mm Mauser used to attack Kim Kardashian. Marc Boyer is said to have pulled out of the Kardashian robbery at the last minute and his son Marc-Alexandre Boyer took over.