Kim Kardashian set to testify in Paris robbery trial that shook her world

Kim Kardashian is scheduled to appear in a Paris courtroom today as a key witness in a high-profile burglary case stemming from a traumatic 2016 incident in which she was robbed at gunpoint during Paris Fashion Week.

The 44-year-old media mogul and entrepreneur is expected to recount her harrowing experience later this afternoon, where she was tied up in her luxury hotel suite and stripped of jewellery worth approximately $9 million, including a $4 million diamond ring gifted by then-husband Kanye West.

The trial, which began in late April, features ten defendants—many elderly and unwell—accused of orchestrating and executing the heist at the upscale Hôtel de Pourtalès. Two others were excused, and one passed away earlier this year. Most of the accused deny involvement, and none of the stolen jewellery has ever been recovered. Authorities believe the items were dismantled and sold, likely in Antwerp.

On Monday, night receptionist Abderrahmane Ouatiki—who was forced by the burglars to lead them to Kardashian’s suite and act as a translator—recounted how the reality star was “completely hysterical” and paralyzed with fear as an armed man pointed a gun at her.

“She was utterly terrified,” Ouatiki testified, describing one of the burglars as visibly agitated and aggressive. He also shared that he feared for his own life, noting how the assailant became more erratic as Kardashian screamed.

Three men reportedly kept watch in the hotel lobby while two others took Ouatiki upstairs to confront Kardashian. After binding her wrists and ankles with cable ties and taping her mouth, the robbers made off with her jewellery, mobile phone, and €1,000 in cash.

French prosecutors are challenging public perception of the defendants as inept elderly criminals. A lead investigator from the Banditry Repression Brigade emphasized that the gang operated with careful planning, using burner phones, securing nearby parking, and allegedly fencing the diamond ring in Antwerp—a feat he described as "well executed."

The suspected mastermind, Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, who is deaf and mute, gave testimony last week by writing his answers, which were then projected onto a courtroom screen.

Stylist Simone Bretter, Kardashian’s friend who was also staying at the hotel but in a different room, is also set to testify. She reportedly hid upon realizing the robbery was in progress.

Kardashian previously shared in an interview with David Letterman that she feared she would be sexually assaulted or killed during the incident. "I was like, 'Okay, this is the time I'm going to get raped'," she recalled, adding that she was terrified her sister Kourtney would find her dead.

After the robbers fled, Kardashian managed to free herself and her bodyguard arrived shortly thereafter. She gave a statement to police early the next morning and immediately returned to the United States.

Ouatiki, an Algerian national and PhD student at the time, revealed he was deeply affected by the event and ensuing speculation about his possible involvement. He said the fallout caused him to lose his student status, return to Algeria, and struggle with PTSD.

“It destroyed my life,” he told French media outlet Le Point.

Kardashian’s testimony today is expected to draw massive media coverage, with nearly 500 journalists accredited for the proceedings. Commentators suggest that her appearance on the stand marks a turning point in her public narrative.

“In 2016 she was the punchline. But in 2025, testifying turns her into the narrator,” said Jeetendr Sehdev, author of The Kim Kardashian Principle. “This gives her a chance to take control of the story.”