Prosecutors on Wednesday urged a French court to hand 10-year prison terms to the four men accused of robbing American superstar Kim Kardashian of some $10 million worth of jewellery at a Paris hotel.

The sentencing demands came on the final days of a trial that saw the reality TV star last week tell a packed court she feared she would be killed by the masked men who held her at gunpoint in the early hours of October 3, 2016.

But she also expressed her forgiveness despite the “trauma”, with most of the suspects now in their 60s and 70s and dubbed the “Grandpa robbers” in the French media.

Nine men and one woman have been standing trial, with prosecutors seeking the most severe jail terms of 10 years for the four men accused of carrying out the robbery.

“I know, just as you do, that among the 10 accused, eight proclaim their innocence,” prosecutor Anne-Dominique Merville told the court on Wednesday.

“Yet my firm conviction is that they are all guilty,” she added.

The attackers threatened Kardashian with a gun, tied her up and taped her mouth.

They made off with valuables that for the most part were never recovered, including a diamond ring given to Kardashian by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West, and valued alone at 3.5 million euros ($3.9 million).

“They were masked, wearing gloves, they were going to hold her and tie her up. They have no empathy for Kim Kardashian, for the receptionist,” said Merville.

She appealed to the panel of judges and jurors who will decide the verdict on Friday not to be taken in by “the reassuring wrinkles” of the accused and to remember they are charged with involvement in a violent crime.

In this “meticulously prepared” robbery, where “thieves” were recruited, “they came for the ring, they got it, they knew exactly what they were doing,” she said.

The prosecutor requested that the alleged mastermind behind the robbery — Aomar Ait Khedache — be sentenced to 10 years in prison.

He has admitted to tying up Kardashian, but denies being the ringleader of the robbery.

Khedache, 69, “gave orders”, recruited others, and travelled to Belgium to sell the jewellery, according to the prosecutor.

The prosecutor accused Khedache of “minimising the violence” even though he admitted to being one of the men who went Kardashian’s bedroom.

“There is no risk of reoffending,” she acknowledged, while adding that he must “pay for his crimes.”

Merville demanded a similar sentence for Didier Dubreucq, 69, who was also in the hotel room according to the prosecution but maintains his innocence.

Yunice Abbas, 71, who wrote a book about the robbery, admitted to arriving at the scene of the robbery with two accomplices on bicycles to “keep watch.”

For him too, “the truth has many facets”, the prosecutor said, requesting a 10-year sentence.

For the fourth suspected member of the team on the night, Marc-Alexandre Boyer, the only youngster at 26 years old at the time, she also demanded 10 years, noting his denials, his past criminal record and the “risk of reoffending”.

Seven-year sentences are being sought for Gary Madar — the brother of Kardashian’s chauffeur — and his friend Florus Heroui, who, according to the prosecution, obtained and shared information about Kardashian’s schedule in Paris.

Eight years are being sought for Khedache’s son, Harminy, accused of being the driver on the evening of the robbery.

The prosecutor wants six years for the only woman on trial, Cathy Glotin, who the prosecution says was responsible for arranging the meetings between her partner Khedache and the accomplices.

American R&B singer Chris Brown was on Wednesday ordered released on bail in an assault case on condition he pay a £5 million guarantee to a UK court.

Under the terms of his bail, the judge said the Grammy-winning Brown, 36, can continue his scheduled international tour which is due to start on June 8 in Amsterdam.

If he fails to return to the UK, where he has a series of concerts from June 15, the £5 million will be forfeited.

Brown, who was not in court for the bail hearing, is also due to play dates in Europe, including France, as well as the United States in 2025.

He was charged last week with “grievous bodily harm with intent” in relation to an assault in which the victim was allegedly struck several times with a bottle before being pursued and punched and kicked.

The alleged assault took place at a nightclub in Hanover Square in London on February 19, 2023 while Brown was touring in the UK.

Police detained him in the early hours of May 13 at a five-star hotel in the northwestern city of Manchester after he reportedly flew in by private jet.

Ordering that he could be freed on bail, judge Tony Baumgartner at Southwark Crown Court in London also stipulated that he should surrender his passport if he is not travelling.

He must live at a specific address known to the court and is not permitted to visit the nightclub were the alleged assault took place or contact the alleged victim Abraham Diah.

Brown and his co-defendant, US national Omololu Akinlolu, 38, has also been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, will appear again at the same court on June 20.

Brown is known for mid-2000s hits such as “Kiss, Kiss”, as well as a litany of legal troubles including a felony conviction for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009.

He rose from a local church choir in Virginia to sudden fame with his rich R&B voice and later rap, but his reputation has been tarnished by the allegations of abuse.

He was convicted of having beaten Rihanna before the 2009 Grammy Awards, forcing the pop star to miss the annual gala.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said that a stable and secure business environment will not only attract investments but also lead to economic growth.

Atiku stated this while speaking at the Taraba International Investment Summit, tagged ‘Taravest,’ in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, on Wednesday.

He said that Taraba’s economy holds significant investment potential and could be optimised to reap the benefits with the provision of a stable and secure investment climate.

He identified agriculture, solid minerals and tourism are strategic to the development of the state, and urged the government to implement measures that will address investment risks and eliminate bottlenecks.

“The government is urged to implement measures that will address investment risks and implement interventions, and eliminate bottlenecks.

“Peace, security, and stability in host communities are critical determinants of investment flows,” he said.

He identified efforts that should direct the government’s efforts in attracting investment to include an investment generation that is well-designed with clear goals, objectives, and strategies, as well as clear, coherent, and consistent policy measures.

Atiku explained that efficient institutions would make all the difference, improve the supply and quality of infrastructure, and hence, are the backbone of sustainable development.

According to him, no Nigerian state has the necessary physical and financial space to independently drive growth and achieve sustainable development.

He, therefore, said that building strategic partnerships between the state, private investors, local businesses, and communities was critical in addressing resource gaps and unlocking the potential of the state to facilitate investments.

The former vice president further stated that private investments would help bridge the resource gaps through additional external resource flows in increased internally generated revenue.

He said, “Indeed, if Taraba aspires to realise its potential and grow its economy sustainably, it must endeavor to leverage private sector resources, including, as Aliko Dangote said, finance, skills, and technology.

“As a private businessman, I recognise that investment, foreign and domestic, drives economic growth and development.

“Private investments will assist the state in leveraging and maximising the economic potential of its agricultural, industrial, and solid mineral sectors, which Taraba is very well known for. This initiative aims to establish a foundation for a diversified economy and ensure inclusive growth.

Atiku emphasised the importance of skill and technology transfers, which he said could lead to higher productivity and improved competitiveness in local enterprises.

“Taraba will be able to upgrade social and economic infrastructure to support economic growth and human capital development.
“Investment in education and healthcare services will help develop the capacity and competencies of the state’s human resources.
“With additional resources, Taraba will better support the poor and vulnerable by empowering them, improving their access to basic services, and ensuring equitable distribution of resources to minimise poverty,” he added.

The former vice president, however, commended the governor for his efforts towards promoting economic growth, prosperity, and improving living standards were clearly evident.

“This initiative to gather investors, both domestic and international, along with development partners under one roof aligns with your vision ‘to build a prosperous, united and secure Taraba State that serves as a model for growth, economic diversification and sustainable development,’ he added.