A genius gambler used his Paul Daniels magic touch

A genius gambler used his Paul Daniels magic touch to
guarantee himself a winning streak on the roulette table, a court
heard.

So quick was his slight of hand that he could place a
betting chip without detection on a winning number after the game
had finished.

It took the careful scrutiny of a security camera to
reveal the astonishing illusion created by 22-year-old Karoush
Kamalinejad, Southwark Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Mark Tomassi told the jury: ‘In this case Lady
Luck was replaced by Lady Deceit because the defendant was guilty
of rather altering his chances of success.

‘
‘So clever was his sleight-of-hand you would deduce he
would have done Paul Daniel’s proud.

‘
Kamalinejad is accused of using his midas touch to con
Charlie Chester’s Casino in Soho on June 10.

The court was told that he was caught on film putting his
winning chip on the table after the roulette ball had stopped and
without the groupier seeing.

His hand was so fast the croupier didn’t have time to put
the ‘dolly’ – a little cup, which acts as a safeguard to prevent
cheating – onto the winning number on the table, it was said.

Mr Tomassi said: ‘It was as dishonest as in a game of
poker when someone has a card up his sleeve.

‘
He said that the central issue in the case was identity.

‘Kamalinejad is disputing that he was guilty of dishonesty.

‘
‘We say it was his hands (recorded) on the video film.

‘
The court was told Kamalineja used a bogus name at the
casino so as not to be identified for his alleged crooked
activities.

Kamalinejad, of Eastholm, Hampstead Gardens Suburb,
Hampstead, denies two charges of obtaining property by deception.

ends