Southern Israel lenders charged with extortion threats against debtors

State prosecutors on Monday filed an indictment in Beersheba Magistrate’s Court against two Beersheba residents, Raz Amitzur, 28, and Dor Tayeb, 29, accusing them of conspiring to extort debtors through threats, intimidation and pressure to collect money. The case was submitted by attorney Elia Fox of the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the indictment, the two were involved in lending money and debt collection, and held numerous conversations in which they planned how to frighten debtors into paying. In one discussion about tracking down a debtor, they allegedly considered hanging posters across Dimona to find him and put pressure on him. Amitzur later told Tayeb, "In every situation where I don't see him, I will rape him, brother."

The indictment says they also discussed recruiting acquaintances to locate debtors and other ways to force repayment. In separate exchanges, they allegedly made threats against debtors and their family members, making clear they intended to continue applying pressure until the money was paid.

In one additional incident, one of the defendants allegedly threatened a debtor with harm if he did not transfer the requested funds. Prosecutors also say Amitzur called a person who owed him money, demanded repayment, and threatened to hurt him if he refused.

In his detention request pending the end of proceedings, Fox described the case as not an isolated event but a "continuous and organized criminal pattern" of collecting money through threats and intimidation. He said the recorded conversations showed advance planning, criminal determination and systematic use of threats, creating a real danger to the complainants and to other debtors. Following the investigation by the Nagev district police unit, the two are charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and extortion by threats.