Bosnian native Fehim Hamidovic, 60, was charged with running a widespread and elaborate pickpocketing operation, with police saying that at one time the gang was responsible for up to 75 per cent of thefts on the Metro, Paris's underground rail network.
The gang trained the girls 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 USD 385 per day and if they failed were abused and tortured, including by being burned with cigarettes.
The gang was busted in 2010 and police estimated it stole a total of 1.3 million euros in Paris in 2009.
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