A newly released podcast, part of the Mail's acclaimed 'The Trial' series, delves into the 2016 robbery of Kim Kardashian at her Paris hotel room, focusing on the elderly suspects accused of orchestrating the heist. Hosted by the Daily Mail’s crime correspondent Caroline Cheetham and Paris reporter Nick Fagge, the first episode sets the stage for the trial of ten individuals, labelled the 'grandpa gang' by French media due to their advanced ages.
The robbery took place during Paris Fashion Week in 2016, when masked men impersonating police officers forced their way into Kim Kardashian's hotel room. The half-naked reality TV star was gagged and bound in the bathtub while the robbers stole jewellery valued at around $10 million. After the robbers fled on bicycles, Kardashian managed to free herself and contacted the police from her stylist's room next door.
The investigation quickly gained momentum following the incident, which led to the identification of the suspects through their mobile phone locations and DNA evidence, including that found on zip ties used to restrain Kardashian. One pivotal figure in the alleged crime was Gary Madar, described as a "celebrity fixer," who reportedly provided information on Kardashian’s movements, particularly when she was unaccompanied by her bodyguard. This information allegedly came because his brother, Michael Madar, was Kardashian’s chauffeur during her stay in Paris.
Caroline Cheetham explained: "The police say he passed the information to a man called Flo Heroui, who owned a bar [the suspects frequented]. The gang members were then tracked down and their association was discovered by tracking their movements and mobile phone locations. Some of them were identified quickly, from DNA left on zip ties they had used to tie up Kim Kardashian."
The suspects include individuals in their sixties and seventies, leading to their nickname in French media. Two men, identified as the ringleader Aït 'Omar' Khedache, aged 70, and Yunice Abbas, 71, have partially admitted involvement. Fagge described the defendants during the trial, held in the Voltaire room on an island in the centre of Paris, as elderly and frail; Khedache uses written answers due to hearing and vision impairments, while Abbas was depicted as "short, squat, and bald," resembling a "bad-tempered bull terrier."
The robbers reportedly acted on a tip that a "big American star was coming to town" and showcasing her luxury possessions on Instagram. Florus 'Flo' Héroui, a bar owner in the Le Marais district, is alleged to have passed along that information.
If convicted of the most serious charges related to the robbery, the suspects could face sentences ranging from ten years to life imprisonment. The trial is expected to last a month, during which Kim Kardashian is anticipated to give a statement in person.
Listeners can follow every courtroom development through 'The Trial: The Kim Kardashian Heist' podcast series, with new episodes released twice weekly. The series is accessible on various podcast platforms, with ad-free options available through The Crime Desk network.
The Daily Mail is reporting on this high-profile case as it unfolds, providing detailed insights into the proceedings and the backgrounds of those involved.
Source: Noah Wire Services