Kim Kardashian will testify in the 2016 Paris hotel robbery trial that saw her tied up at gunpoint

Kim Kardashian is set to testify in a Paris court today, nearly nine years after she was violently robbed at gunpoint during a luxury stay in the French capital that shocked the world and changed her life forever.

The 44-year-old reality star and business mogul will take the stand in the afternoon to recount the harrowing night in October 2016 when five armed men broke into her exclusive suite at the Hotel de Pourtalès, tied her up, and stole $9 million (£7m) worth of jewellery, including a $4 million engagement ring from then-husband Kanye West.

Ten men are currently standing trial for their alleged roles in the high-profile heist. French media have dubbed the suspects the “grandpa robbers” due to their age — several are in their 70s and suffering from serious health issues. The trial began on 28 April and has already seen gripping testimony from hotel staff and investigators.

On Monday, the court heard from Abderrahmane Ouatiki, the night receptionist who was forced at gunpoint to lead the intruders to Kardashian’s suite. Ouatiki described her as “completely hysterical” and “utterly terrified” as the masked robbers burst in, demanding her valuables. “He was very aggressive and she was screaming,” Ouatiki said. “She thought she was going to be raped.”

The robbers tied Kardashian’s hands and feet with cable ties, taped her mouth shut, and dragged her into a bathroom wearing only a bathrobe, which fell open as they moved her. Asked about the moment, Ouatiki refused to elaborate. “You have to respect the victim,” he told the court.

Ouatiki, who acted as an interpreter between the burglars and Kardashian, said he feared for both their lives as one of the men, visibly agitated, pointed a gun. He has since spoken publicly about the toll the incident took on him. A PhD student in semiotics at the time, he said he lost his visa after media speculation wrongly painted him as an insider. “My life fell apart,” he told Le Point, revealing he now suffers from PTSD and was forced to return to Algeria.

The trial’s dramatic tone has been amplified by prosecutors’ efforts to challenge the image of amateur elderly crooks. The alleged ringleader, Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, who is deaf and mute, appeared last week and wrote out his answers in court. The prosecution insists the group operated with professional precision: they used burner phones, wore disguises, scouted the scene, and successfully fenced the stolen goods, including Kardashian’s ring, which was reportedly sold in Antwerp.

The court also heard that Kardashian’s stylist and close friend, Simone Bretter, was also in the hotel during the incident but managed to avoid detection by hiding in another room. She will testify on Tuesday morning.

In a 2020 interview with David Letterman, Kardashian recalled believing she was going to be sexually assaulted during the ordeal. “I was like, ‘Okay, this is the time I’m going to get raped,’” she said, adding that she feared being killed. “I’m gonna be dead in the room and [my sister] Kourtney’s gonna be traumatised for the rest of her life.”

The robbers eventually made off with jewellery, a phone, and €1,000 in cash. Kardashian managed to free herself after they fled and was quickly helped by her returning bodyguard. She flew back to the US immediately after giving a statement to police.

Nearly 500 journalists have registered to cover Kardashian’s testimony, which is expected to dominate headlines.

“Testifying will allow her to reclaim agency in this situation and rewrite the ending,” said celebrity expert Jeetendr Sehdev. “In 2016, she was the punchline. But in 2025, testifying is going to turn her into the narrator.”