'Fagin of Paris' sentenced to seven years Bosnian native Fahim Hamidovic, 60, who was described by his lawyers as a "good grandfather," was charged with running a widespread pickpocketing operation, with police saying that at one time the gang was responsible for up to 75 per cent of thefts on the Paris Metro - the underground rail network. The trained young girls, mainly from Bosnia, to pick pockets and find potential targets - often Asian tourists known for carrying significant amounts of cash. The girls were ordered to bring in at least 300 euros (£194) per day and if they failed were abused and tortured, including by being burned with cigarettes. Appearing in court in March, Hamidovic appeared nonplussed when the judge asked him how he was able to fund a lavish lifestyle in his Rome villa, possess a Porsche Cayenne and spend much of his time gambling while declaring nothing to the taxman. About 20 members of the gang were also on trial and sentenced to between one and five years in prison. The gang was busted in 2010 and police estimated it stole a total of 1.3 million euros in Paris in 2009. Hamidovic had denied all the charges claimed to be the victim of a plot to incriminate him by a rival Bosnian clan run by a man nicknamed "Elvis."