Not a single one of the armed robbers who held Kim Kardashian up at gunpoint and stole $10million-worth of jewellery will spend another day in prison, it emerged today.
Lawyers for the seven men and one woman found guilty of targeting the 44-year-old reality TV star confirmed on Saturday that all remained free.
This was despite them all being convicted at the Paris Assizes on Friday, following a high-profile trial lasting just under a month.
‘Health and age factors and the fact that they have spent periods in prison already means that none will go back inside a cell,’ said a defence counsel source. ‘All have returned to their homes.’
It came as lawyers for Ms Kardashian said she was ‘satisfied’ with the result of the trial, and that ‘justice had been served..’
‘It’s now done, she can move on,’ said the American’s barrister, Léonor Hennerick, although she confirmed that the vast majority of the swag has never been recovered.
The highest sentence of eight years in prison – with five suspended – was handed down to 69-year-old Aomar Aït Khedache, the ringleader of the gang, who have been referred to as the ‘Grandpa Robbers’, because most are now in their 60s and 70s.
Known as ‘Old Omar’, Aït Khedache is deaf and can barely speak following years of ill health and a lifetime of violent crime, including other heists and drugs running.
Lawyers for the seven men and one woman found guilty of targeting the 44-year-old reality TV star (pictured) confirmed on Saturday that all remained free
The highest sentence of eight years in prison was handed down to 69-year-old gang ringleader Aomar Aït Khedache (pictured)
Ms Kardashian lost some of her most treasured possessions in the raid, including a $4million engagement ring (pictured)
His defence lawyer, Chloé Arnoux, said: ‘He was sentenced to eight years in prison, but he won’t go, because he has already served five years in prison.
‘He was convicted in 2017 for another sentence concurrently with the latest one handed down, so the remaining three years will be suspended too.’
Ms Arnoux said: ‘This decision is also proof that justice can truly redress the situation in ways other than prison.’
Yunnis Abbas, a 72-year-old who wrote a book titled ‘I kidnapped Kim Kardashian’, received a seven year sentence, with two years suspended, but has already spent enough time inside to go free.
Prosecutors had called for 10 years in prison for the robbers, and trial judge David De Pas had it in his power to imprison them for up to 30 years.
The Judge later admitted ‘the sentences were fairly lenient,’ but it was almost nine years since the October 2016 heist, and none of the accused was likely to reoffend, he said.
Yunnis Abbas (pictured) a 72-year-old who wrote a book titled ‘I kidnapped Kim Kardashian’, received a seven year sentence, with two years suspended, but has already spent enough time inside to go free
Kim Kardashian has reacted to the criminals behind her Paris jewelry heist robbery being found guilty on Friday. Seen in Paris earlier this month
‘You didn’t hit anyone, you frightened them,’ the Judge told the defendants. ‘You caused trauma, probably in a lasting way,’ but ‘rebuilt your lives and taken steps to reintegrate.’
Two of the defendants – both considered informants who allegedly passed on Ms Kardashian’s movement to the gang during Paris Fashion Week – were acquitted.
Ms Kardashian lost some of her most treasured possessions in the raid, including a $4million engagement ring from her ex-husband, the rapper Kanye West.
During an emotional testimony to the court last week, she said she had feared she would not survive the raid.
Judge De Pas asked her directly during court questioning: ‘Did you think you were going to die, Madam?’
The American replied: ‘Absolutely, I was certain I was going to die..’
Two of the defendants – both considered informants who allegedly passed on Ms Kardashian’s movement to the gang during Paris Fashion Week – were acquitted
During an emotional testimony to the court last week, Ms Kardashian said ‘ I was certain I was going to die’
The vast majority of defendants were imprisoned in January 2017, three months after the robbery.
But then they were released on bail, meaning they were all free when the trial started in April.
Ms Kardashian was not in court on Friday, but her lawyers said she was following proceedings from her home in Los Angeles.
The ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ star qualified as an attorney this month, following six years of study.
She said she wanted to ‘fight for justice’, including for defendants in criminal trials.
Her late father, Robert Kardashian Junior, famoulsy defended actor O.J.Simpson at his trial for murder in 1995.
During the Paris trial, Ms Kardashian accepted an emotional apology from the gang ringleader, Aït Khedache.
The ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ star qualified as an attorney this month, following six years of study and has said she wants to ‘fight for justice’
In a statement released after the trial, the 44-year-old added that she was ‘deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case.’
The SKIMS founder said: ‘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,’ she added in what could be perceived in a nod to the family of the criminals.
She ended with: ‘I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system.’
Paris detectives were originally convinced that justice in the Kardashian case would be swift and decisive, but timetabling problems caused by other high-profile trials, including terrorist ones, caused backlogs.
There were also fears that the Kardashian case would destroy the VIP French tourism industry at a time of prestige five-star events, such as the Paris Olympics and Rugby World Cup.
