Social Media Stars Arrested for Extortion and Threats
Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba
Social media personalities Dennis Tsarkov and Michel Troni were arrested on suspicion of extorting and threatening individuals, including a minor, by accusing them of animal abuse and demanding fines. The arrests followed multiple complaints to the Bnei Brak police station. Tsarkov and Troni, who lead an organization called "Animal Police," claim their actions are legal and unprecedented, and that they cooperated with the investigation and were released. They allege external parties with personal motives are behind the complaints.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Social media stars Dennis Tsarkov and Michel Troni arrested for extortion and threats.
- Suspects allegedly threatened victims, including a minor, over alleged animal abuse.
- Demands for fines and dissemination of videos were part of the alleged scheme.
- The arrests followed multiple complaints to the Bnei Brak police station.
- Tsarkov and Troni, leading "Animal Police," claim their actions are legal and unprecedented.
- They allege external parties with personal motives are behind the complaints.
Social media personalities Dennis Tsarkov and Michel Troni were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of extortion and threats. According to the allegations, they threatened individuals, including a minor, claiming the victims had abused animals. The suspects allegedly demanded payment of fines and disseminated videos on social media against those who refused.
The investigation was initiated at the Bnei Brak police station following multiple complaints from individuals reporting online threats and financial extortion. Police discovered videos circulating online where one suspect, identified as a man in his 40s from Bnei Brak, allegedly threatened complainants and demanded fines, citing animal abuse.
A second suspect, a resident of Bat Yam, was arrested later the same day on suspicion of involvement. Both individuals were taken in for questioning.
A statement attributed to the "Animal Police," led by Tsarkov and Troni, described their actions as groundbreaking and unprecedented in Israel. They stated that the Israeli Police sought to examine the legality of their operations. The statement claimed that the Animal Police cooperated fully with the investigation, asserting that all their actions were legal and within the bounds of the law. They were reportedly released after about an hour without significant restrictions.
The statement also suggested that the complaints did not originate from those directly involved in their recent operations but from external parties with ulterior motives, possibly seeking to sabotage the Animal Police's work due to personal vendettas. They expressed regret that efforts to protect animals might be jeopardized by personal disputes, reiterating their commitment to their mission of defending animals and exposing abuse through innovative methods, and affirmed their belief that their activities are legal and have widespread support.
