0
0
Kim Kardashian has publicly forgiven the ringleader of the violent Paris robbery that left her traumatised in 2016. The emotional revelation came during her testimony at a Paris court on Tuesday, May 13.
The 44-year-old reality star was bound and gagged by a gang of burglars who stole millions of dollars worth of jewellery from her apartment during Paris Fashion Week in 2016. Facing the accused ringleader, Aomar Ait Khedache, in court, Kardashian acknowledged receiving a letter of apology he had written after his arrest — although she was unaware of it at the time.
“This experience changed my life, and my family’s life,” Kardashian told the court. “Back home in the States, I work in the justice system. I want so badly to be a lawyer, and I fight for people to seek justice.”
“I do appreciate the letter, for sure. I forgive you,” she added. “But it doesn’t change the emotion, the feelings, the trauma, and the way my life has changed.”
Shortly after her statement, Kardashian was handed a note from Khedache during a court recess. It read:
“Your forgiveness is a sunshine that has enlightened me… I am forever grateful.”
Khedache, who is deaf and mute, is alleged to be one of the two men who pointed a gun at Kardashian during the heist. His apology letter, read aloud by Judge David De Pas, emphasized that he wasn’t seeking forgiveness but wished to express his deep regret.
“Madame, after seeing you on a French TV show and witnessing your emotion — realizing the psychological harm I caused — I decided to write to you,” the letter read.
“Not with the aim of getting forgiveness… I want to tell you, human to human, how I regret my actions and how I was touched to see you cry. I am sorry for the pain I caused you, your husband, your children, and those who love you.”
“Of course, you can’t undo the past,” he continued, “but I hope this letter helps you forget the trauma you endured because of me.”
In her testimony, Kardashian recounted the terrifying details of the night, stating she believed she was going to die.
“I absolutely did think I was going to die,” she said. “One of them picked me up and threw me onto the bathroom floor, then taped my mouth shut.”
She recalled the moments after the burglars left:
“I waited a few minutes — I wasn’t sure if they were coming back. After a while, I didn’t hear anything, so I managed to get the tape off and went to find Simone [her stylist].”
Kardashian was accompanied by her sister Kourtney during the heist and described how she feared Kourtney would walk in and witness her death.
“At that point, I was sure they were going to shoot me. I said a prayer for my family — for my mom, my sister, and my best friend. I hoped they would be OK afterward. I imagined being shot dead on the bed and that [Kourtney] would walk in and carry that image forever.”
She also expressed shock and anger over co-defendant Yunice Abbas’s decision to publish a book about the robbery, titled I Held Up Kim Kardashian.
“I honestly was really shocked when I saw there was a book,” she said. “Not only did he do this, but now he’s making money off it — my jewellery, my memories. The watch my dad gave me when I graduated high school… I can’t get that back.”
“It wasn’t just jewellery,” she added. “Someone took away my memories, and now he’s capitalising on it? It didn’t seem fair.”
Since the robbery, Kardashian has relied on therapy and heightened security measures to cope.
“I’ve had to change my life. If someone was coming up the stairs and didn’t respond when I called out, I’d start crying — it reminded me of that night,” she said. “Now, I surround myself with a lot of security, even if it seems excessive to others. It’s what I need to feel safe and sleep at night — and I’m OK with that.”
