Who is Yunice Abbas? Everything to know about the ‘grandpa robbers’ accused of Kim Kardashian’s Paris burglary as trial begins

Yunice Abbas, a member of the ‘Grandpa Robbers’ gang, will face a trial for robbing Kim Kardashian. Abbas and the other gang members were taken into custody in January 2017, three months after the incident took place in October 2016.

As per reports, ten individuals will appear in a court in Paris. Their trial is scheduled to last less than three weeks. Among these ten, five are accused of being directly involved in the robbery. Six others are accused of helping with the crime.

Two of them, Abbas and a 68-year-old man named Aomar Ait Khedache, have admitted to their involvement. The others have not admitted guilt. One of the original suspects has since died. Another suspect, who is 81 years old, will not be required to attend the trial because of severe dementia.

Yunice Abbas explained that during the robbery, he had no idea who Kim Kardashian was. He said he was only told they were targeting a famous person who was the wife of a rapper. It wasn’t until the following morning, when he saw news coverage on TV about the influencer that he realized who she was.

According to Paris Match, Yunice Abbas shared that in the early 1970s, he worked as a handyman while living in Clichy-sous-Bois. A friend once asked him if he could open a safe, and although he was just 17 at the time, he agreed.

Abbas recalled how easy it was back then, with no surveillance cameras. He and others opened bank doors, grabbed the money on the counters, and left without using weapons.

Yunice Abbas felt he was responsible for Kim Kardashian’s psychological trauma

Yunice Abbas served a prison term of 21 months, but he was released on judicial supervision. According to Billboard, concerning the mental impact of the heist on Kim Kardashian, Abbas said:

“It’s true, I didn’t think about it. I recognize that because I did not brutalize her myself… I was not blaming myself regarding this aspect, and yet I’m responsible for it too.”

Yunice Abbas also wrote a book about the heist whose translated title reads I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian. The book has been co-authored with journalist Thierry Niemen. In the interview with Paris Match, Abbas was asked why Khedache contacted him, to which he replied:

“He knew I was having financial difficulties. He told me he was preparing something. I said yes, right away. It was a challenge, to prove that I was still capable of doing something like this.”

Kim Kardashian's jewelery, worth $10 million, was stolen, and among them was the engagement ring that her ex-husband, Kanye West, gave to her. It is noteworthy that Kim was robbed at gunpoint.

The suspects in the crime wore ski masks and clothing that looked like police uniforms. They used zip ties and duct tape to tie her up.

The trial will reportedly last till May 23, 2025, and Kim Kardashian will make her statements in person. Speaking to The Associated Press, Abbas said:

“I will apologize. I mean it sincerely.”

According to Paris Match, Yunice Abbas confirmed that at 18, he was sent to the Melun remand center. He described it as a tough experience, where he could only talk to his mother once a week through a window and had just half an hour of outdoor time.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback