Criminal Lawyer Charged with Extortion After Threatening Debtor and Sending Intimidators to His Home

A 52-year-old criminal defense lawyer has been indicted for extortion by threats after allegedly intimidating a man who borrowed money from him. The indictment, filed Sunday at the Magistrate's Court in Rishon Lezion, accuses the lawyer of threatening the debtor and sending two individuals to the debtor's home to pressure him into repaying the loan.

The accused and the complainant had a prior relationship, including legal representation. In 2025, the lawyer lent the complainant approximately 50,000 shekels in cash, of which 30,000 shekels were repaid. Additionally, a relative and friend of the lawyer lent the complainant 20,000 shekels that remained unpaid.

After the full repayment was not made, the lawyer allegedly sent threatening text and voice messages, including statements such as "Within an hour, guys will be at your house" and "When they knock on your door, I'm with them on camera." The lawyer also enlisted two men to visit the complainant's home, where the complainant's nine-year-old son was present, to intimidate him. The men knocked but left after receiving no response.

Further threatening messages were sent, including "I won't leave you alone," "You will leave the house eventually," and "Next time I will come." Following these events, the complainant filed a police complaint, leading to the lawyer's arrest. The prosecution requested the lawyer remain in custody throughout the legal proceedings, citing the intensity of the threats and the risk posed by sending people to the complainant's home. The lawyer's name is under gag order by court decision.