A 71-year-old man accused of helping rob Kim Kardashian at gunpoint in a Paris hotel has said he “totally regrets” his role in the 2016 $10 million jewel heist.
Yunice Abbas, one of 10 defendants currently on trial in Paris, claimed he only acted as a lookout while two others tied up the US reality star and stole her jewellery. Speaking in court on Tuesday, Abbas said he “totally regretted” the robbery, describing it as a “moment of weakness” driven by financial desperation.
‘It Opened My Eyes,’ Says Abbas
Abbas, who arrived and fled the scene on a bicycle, admitted to dropping a bag of stolen jewellery during his escape. He picked it up but left behind a diamond necklace—the only piece recovered by police. “That job was one too many,” he told the court. “It opened my eyes.”
Suffering from Parkinson’s disease, Abbas sat in court with his hand over his heart, explaining it helps calm his racing heartbeat caused by anxiety.
Court Reviews Abbas’ Criminal Past
The judge reviewed Abbas’s long criminal record, including charges related to fake number plates, smuggling cannabis in cars with secret compartments, and a previous armed robbery. Despite a stint as a car mechanic, Abbas said he often fell into crime when money was tight.
“I thought it was a shortcut, but it only complicated my life,” he said.
Not Your Average ‘Friendly Old Men’
While Abbas and the other nine defendants—most in their 60s and 70s—are not in custody, the prosecution has warned against seeing them as harmless elderly men. Henri de Beauregard, lawyer for the night receptionist forced to lead the robbers to Kardashian’s room, urged the court not to believe in “the myth of friendly, Robin Hood-style pensioners.”
Kardashian to Testify in May
Kim Kardashian, now 44, is scheduled to testify on 13 May. The trial, happening during Paris Fashion Week, continues to grip global attention as the high-profile case unfolds.
