Yunice Abbas Reflects on Kim Kardashian’s Terrifying Paris Robbery
When a group of masked men stormed Kim Kardashian’s luxury apartment in Paris back in October 2016, the world watched in shock. The group, posing as police, forced their way into the No Address Hotel, bound Kardashian’s hands and feet, and stole around $9 million in jewelry—the most high-profile celebrity robbery in Paris in decades. Now, years later, one of the suspects at the center of this notorious heist, 71-year-old Yunice Abbas, is facing a French court—and speaking out about the fear and trauma Kardashian has endured.
Abbas didn't shy away from his involvement when taking the stand. While he insisted he stuck to “lookout” duty and never set foot in Kardashian’s room, his admission paints a picture of a carefully orchestrated crime. The break-in not only rattled Kardashian and her inner circle, it also sparked new debates about celebrity safety and the risks of showcasing valuables online. Kardashian herself, through tense and tearful testimony, detailed the ordeal: how she screamed for help, wriggled to escape her zip ties, and genuinely believed she might die that night.
From Book Sales to Courtroom Contrition
Strangely, Abbas also became an unlikely author after the incident, co-authoring a book titled I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian. Despite the sensationalist title and chilling subject, Abbas now claims his role in the book was warped. He told the court he had little say in the final product, calling the title misleading—he never touched Kardashian, he emphasized, but watched from outside the hotel room in the corridor. He also revealed that, while the book generated some buzz, its earnings are frozen until after the trial is over, leaving his motives for the book’s release open to interpretation.
What stands out now is Abbas’s switch from bravado to remorse. During his testimony, he didn’t focus on his legal woes or defend his actions. Instead, he talked openly about the psychological harm suffered by Kardashian that night, expressing regret for his role in what she’s described as one of the most traumatic moments of her life. This shift comes in sharp contrast to his earlier willingness to profit from his infamy, and has raised questions about publicity, shame, and the line between confessional and exploitative storytelling.
Ten suspects in all, including Abbas, are facing charges in the French courts related to the robbery. The trial’s revelations reveal a tangled mix of premeditated crime, celebrity culture, and personal regret, with Abbas’s narrative changing as the pressure of public and legal scrutiny increases. For Kim Kardashian, the events of that night led to a fundamental change in how she presents her lavish lifestyle to the world. The glare of global celebrity may have made her a target, but the courtroom drama unfolding in Paris continues to spotlight the human cost behind the headline-grabbing crime.
