Paris Clan Leader Sentenced to Eight Years Over Child Pickpocketing Network
Roberto Hamidovic ran a network of child thieves, some as young as 10, who targeted tourists at the Paris Métro and Disneyland.
A clan leader who directed gangs of child pickpockets to target tourists on the Paris Métro and at popular attractions including Disneyland Paris has been sentenced to eight years in prison for human trafficking, according to The Guardian.
Roberto Hamidovic, 48, ran a network of child thieves, mostly girls, some as young as 10, who brought in an average of €25,000 (£21,500) a day, according to police cited in the report.
The report likened Hamidovic to Fagin, the notorious criminal boss from Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist, who similarly directed a gang of child pickpockets in 19th-century London.
The case highlights ongoing concerns among French authorities about organized networks that exploit children for criminal activity in high-traffic tourist areas of Paris and its surrounding region.
Further details on the number of children involved in Hamidovic's network and the specific charges beyond human trafficking were not included in the report.
Sources
- Clan leader in Paris sentenced to eight years over child pickpocketing gangs — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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