The China Mail - Kardashian 'grateful' after Paris robbers convicted

Describing the heist as "the most terrifying experience of my life", Kardashian swiftly expressed her gratitude to the French authorities for pursuing "justice".

Nine men and one woman have been standing trial since April with prosecutors seeking the toughest jail terms -- 10 years -- for the four men accused of carrying out the robbery.

Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, the ringleader, was handed the heaviest sentence of three years in prison plus five years suspended, but due to time served in jail will not return to detention, like all the others convicted.

Two other suspects accused of handing information about the American superstar's whereabouts were acquitted and all the sentences were substantially lower than the terms demanded by the prosecution.

Kardashian, then 35, was robbed while staying at an exclusive hotel in the French capital on the night of October 2-3, 2016.

She was threatened with a gun to the head and tied up, with her mouth taped.

Kardashian said after the verdict she she was "deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice".

"The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family," she said in a statement sent by her lawyers.

"While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all," she added.

- 'I am very sorry' -

"The sentences are quite lenient; I understand that you understand that you have caused harm," presiding judge David De Pas told the accused as he read out the verdicts.

He also said "the state of health of the main protagonists ethically prohibits incarcerating anyone. It would have been unjust to take you to prison this evening."

Aomar Ait Khedache had begged to be forgiven in his final statement ahead of sentencing.

Khedache is now virtually mute and completely deaf, and his statement was read out by his lawyer.

Known as "Old Omar", Khedache has admitted to tying up Kardashian but denies being the robbery mastermind.

"I ask for forgiveness. I can't find the words. I am very sorry," he wrote, asking for "a thousand pardons" from his son Harminy, who was convicted for acting as a driver on the night of the heist.

Two other men convicted of carrying out the robbery on the night, Yunice Abbas, 71, and Didier Dubreucq, 69, were sentenced to seven years jail with five suspended. Dubreucq was absent as he is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

The fourth member of the robbery gang, Marc-Alexandre Boyer, at 35 the only youngster, was given the same sentence.

- 'Grandpa robbers' -

Most of the stolen valuables were never recovered, including a diamond ring given to Kardashian by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West.

The ring alone was valued at 3.5 million euros ($3.9 million).

The robbery was the biggest against a private individual in France in 20 years.

Most of the accused are now in their 60s and 70s and have been dubbed the "Grandpa robbers" by French media.

But making the sentencing demands earlier this week, the prosecutor urged the judges and jury to remember that Kardashian was targeted by a violent attack and not to be taken in by the "wrinkles" of the defendants.

The American star testified at the trial, wearing a diamond necklace valued at $3 million, according to its New York-based creator Samer Halimeh.

During the trial, Kardashian told the court she forgave Khedache after hearing a letter of apology from him.

"I forgive you for what has taken place but it does not change the emotion, the feelings, the trauma and the way my life changed," she told Khedache, adding that she believed in a "second chance".

Kardashian, sometimes described as "famous for being famous", became well known in the early 2000s through TV reality shows, before launching fashion brands and appearing in films.

C.Mak--ThChM