Speaking before a jury on Tuesday, Abbas, 72, acknowledged the deep trauma inflicted on Kardashian during the high-profile heist, in which $9 million worth of jewellery was stolen from her private apartment during Paris Fashion Week.
“I regret it, not because I got caught, but because there was a trauma,” Abbas said, marking a rare moment of contrition in a criminal career he admitted has spanned several decades. He emphasized that this was the first time he truly grasped the emotional impact his actions had on a victim.
The trial, which resumed Monday afternoon, involves 10 individuals accused of various roles in the elaborate robbery. French media have dubbed the group the “grandpa robbers,” as many of the accused are in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s.
Abbas was the first of several defendants scheduled to testify and has previously admitted his involvement in the crime. He also authored a controversial book titled I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian, published in 2021, in which he recounted details of the heist. However, during his testimony, Abbas distanced himself from the book’s title, claiming he had no say in it and disputing parts of the narrative surrounding his role.
He stated he did not personally interact with Kardashian during the robbery, asserting that he remained downstairs to keep watch while others confronted her at gunpoint and restrained her. Kardashian, who was in Paris for Fashion Week at the time, has since spoken openly about the severe psychological impact the event had on her.
The trial continues as the court hears from more defendants, each accused of varying degrees of involvement in what remains one of the most brazen celebrity robberies in recent history.
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