Kim Kardashian's Paris Robbery Suspect Claims He Left A $24,000 Diamond Necklace On The Street

Three of the suspects linked to Kim Kardashian's 2016 Paris robbery have testified in the ongoing trial about the crime. 

Yunice Abbas, the most widely reported of the ten people facing trial for the incident, revealed he suffered a mishap during his getaway with Kim's jewelry. He and his accomplices made off with $10 million in jewels, including one of the entertainer's engagement rings.

Twelve people were initially linked to Kim Kardashian's Paris robbery; however, only ten are standing trial for the crime. One of the suspects recently passed away, while the other was excused for having advanced dementia.

During his testimony, Abbas recalled escaping the Hôtel de Pourtalès, where he and other members of the "Grandpa Robbers" stole Kim's valuables around 3 AM on October 3, 2016. They attacked the entertainer's rented suite during Paris Fashion Week, overpowering a guard before robbing her clean.

The group made off with about $10 million worth of jewelry, including the $4-million diamond engagement ring Kim's then-husband Kanye 'Ye' West gifted her. Unfortunately for them, their escape wasn't as smooth as their entry, with Abbas making a fatal error while riding away on a bicycle.

He recalled falling off his bicycle and spilling the jewelry bag on the street. Abbas tried to salvage what he could before fleeing the scene, but he left a $24,000 diamond necklace.

A pedestrian reportedly found the gem later that morning and shockingly flaunted it at work all day before learning about the theft, per BBC News.

Once they realized their error, the pedestrian who picked up the diamond necklace immediately returned it to authorities. This necklace and the DNA found at the crime scene helped the French police eventually arrest Abbas and his accomplices in January 2017.

Cops later revealed they had been surveilling the group for several weeks before taking them into custody. One of the men linked to the robbery, Gary Madar, took the stand on Tuesday to deny his involvement in the crime.

At 35, he is the youngest among the suspects and got namedropped by Kim, who believed he told the thieves about her movements. The Madar family has worked with the Kardashians for several years, with Gary working for Kourtney Kardashian when the robbery happened.

He has denied all allegations of wrongdoing; nonetheless, investigators believe he passed Kim's information to another defendant, Florus Héroui, who owns the cafe where he worked.

While Gary insisted he knew nothing about Kim's robbery, Marc Boyer, a 78-year-old defendant, acknowledged his part in the heist. Boyer was accused of obtaining the gun used in the incident and expressed remorse for his actions.

He played the sympathy card, noting his life was negatively influenced by petty crime and friends he described as "thieves" and "crooks." Boyer also expressed remorse for introducing his son, Marc-Alexandre, to a life of crime.

Investigators suspect Marc-Alexandre played a more pivotal role in Kim's robbery while Boyer stayed downstairs in the hotel as a lookout with Abbas. The trial kicked off on Monday, with the selection of six jury members while three magistrates presided over the trial.

Abbas' appearance in court made waves for doing a complete 180 about his guilt. The Blast covered the story, reporting he changed his past stance on feeling unremorseful about Kim's robbery during the trial. Abbas acknowledged he was in the wrong, telling the court:

"Before I didn't. But this time, I do regret what I did… It opened my eyes. TVs were talking about it all day, and it led me to ask myself some questions."

When asked about his infamous 2021 memoir, "I Held Up Kim Kardashian," Abbas denied flaunting his involvement in the crime.

He stressed that he did not feel proud about robbing Kim even though the book's title said otherwise. He also begged for leniency, blaming his poor life choices on the absence of a good male role model.

Abbas' sudden change came three years after he boldly implied Kim deserved to be robbed in a 2022 interview. "Since she was throwing money away, I was there to collect it, and that was that," he said at the time, adding:

"Guilty? No, I don't care. I don't care. They should be a little less showy toward people who can't afford it."

Abbas took back these comments during the trial, painting himself as a criminal with a kind heart. He implied he was the victim of an impoverished life who was forced to commit crimes to make ends meet.

"The longer the sentences, the more you get used to it," Abbas lamented after confirming he had spent 17 years in and out of jail.

Kim Kardashian's Paris robbery trial is expected to last three weeks, with the reality TV star taking the stand as a witness on May 13. What will she say to the perpetrators?