A Hungarian dress shoe is to bring two Belgian police officers to Sydney, Australia later this month, in an inquiry launched by the European Union Court of First Instance. The investigation is looking into large-scale casino fraud by a syndicate that has operated at casinos across Europe, and is believed to have netted millions of dollars.

The Sydney police arrested Laszlo Sendor Kovacs, a Hungarian tourist, four years ago, after he had won around A$120,000 at the Sky City Casino. They discovered a microcomputer in the built-up heel and sole of his dress shoe after casino personnel had become suspicious about his constant foot tapping at the roulette table. The scam involved sending information about the speed of the roulette wheel, which gives an edge on calculating where the ball will fall. Kovacs was deported from Australia before he could answer charges of defrauding the casino but a warrant remains for his arrest should he return.

Before his arrest, Kovacs is thought to have won large amounts at other east coast casinos. European police believe that he may have assisted a known gang of criminals to perfect the microprocessor shoe technology to defraud casinos in Europe. It suspects that shoes, allegedly designed by Kovacs, have been used at European casinos and police have already questioned him in London. The only evidence of the type of shoe used is the shoe held by the Sydney police, and the Belgian police officers are making the journey to study the design.

The European Union Court of First Instance, created in 1988, is composed of 25 judges, one from each member state, and can instigate an inquiry after the first written stage of proceedings. (E-03.14.05)

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