There is yet another development surrounding the robbery of Kim Kardashian. According to Entertainment Tonight, Kim Kardashian's Paris limo driver was released from police custody, alongside two other individuals. ET reports a spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor confirmed the news to CBS News reporter Elaine Cobbe. The limo driver was hired by Kardashian in October during the time she was robbed. Per TMZ, the limo company employing the driver said he was never considered a suspect, which is why he's no longer in police custody.
French transportation company UNIC Worldpass told TMZ that the driver, Michael Madar, was released with no criminal charges and was solely in custody "for testimony purposes." TMZ reports UNIC said neither it or Madar have any connection whatsoever to Kardashian's robbery.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that Kardashian's limo driver was in police custody. New York Daily News reports that one of the other two suspects released was Madar's brother, Gary Madar, who also worked for the car service. According to the Daily News, it's not entirely clear which Madar brother was driving Kardashian's car that dropped her off at the hotel.
On Monday, CNN reported a Paris prosecutor spokesman confirmed French police had arrested 17 suspects in connection with Kardashian's robbery. At the time of this report, Bustle reached out to Kardashian's rep for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.
According to CNN, the prosecutor for the case said the suspects arrested range from the age of 23 to 73 and could be held for up to 96 hours for questioning. DNA evidence was reportedly found in Kardashian's hotel room where the robbery took place, which is what reportedly led police to some of the suspects.
According to France L'Express magazine (translation via CNN), the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star's French lawyer, Jean Veil, commented on the arrests and said, "On the one hand, it will perhaps mean the jewels will be recovered and on the other hand it puts an end to disgraceful speculation by some people, who thought it clever to pretend this robbery was a set-up or a publicity stunt by Madame Kardashian."
