Due to a financial debt, a lawyer sent people to threaten a client: "They are about to strangle you"

A criminal defense lawyer who lent tens of thousands of shekels to a friend was arrested after he did not settle for demands for the return of the money when the debt was not paid. In an indictment filed against him, it is alleged that he sent a series of threatening messages, sent two people to the complainant's house, and warned him that "within an hour, there will be guys at your house," all with the aim of intimidating him so that he would return the borrowed money.

According to the indictment against the lawyer, which charges him with the offense of extortion by threats, during the relevant period, the defendant worked as a lawyer and, among other things, represented defendants in criminal proceedings. It is alleged that there were friendly relations between him and the complainant against the background of the legal representation, and subsequently, he lent him about 50,000 shekels in cash.

It is further alleged that a relative and friend of the lawyer lent the complainant an additional sum of about 20,000 shekels. The complainant returned part of the money to the lawyer but did not repay the balance of the loans, a matter which, according to the prosecution, aroused the defendant's anger.

"When they are knocking on your door, I am on the camera with them"

In July of this year, the lawyer sent the complainant threatening WhatsApp messages with the aim of motivating him to return the funds.

Among other things, it was written: "How much of a maniac and a son of a bitch can you be!; Don't worry, yesterday evening you already came up in a conversation with some guys, have a safe trip," and also "They will have a conversation with you today, they will meet with you to do..."

After the complainant sent threatening messages to the lawyer's relative, the latter forwarded the correspondence to the defendant, who replied with a voice message: "My dear brother, today I am going to fuck him. Don't pay attention to messages from him, bye, let him go."

It is further alleged that a few days later, when the debt had still not been paid, the lawyer contacted two people whose identities are known and asked them to go to the complainant's house to intimidate him and bring him to repay the loans. At the same time, he sent him additional messages in which he wrote: "The keys are already in the ignition. The engine has started. In a few minutes, you will know more, not long. Hope you are at home," and later added: "Only that prick is about to strangle you for how you spoke and behaved and are speaking, so you will get more than you deserve."

According to the charge, the lawyer continued to threaten in voice messages as well and told the complainant: "Within an hour, there will be guys at your house, an hour, no more, bye," and in another message added: "When they are knocking on your door, I am on the camera with them. I see what is going to happen, you understand brother, everything is fine, I am also giving the instructions." Shortly thereafter, it is alleged, the two men arrived at the complainant's apartment building and knocked on his door. At that time, the complainant was at home with his nine-year-old son, noticed them through the security cameras, and was afraid to open the door. After a few minutes, the two left the scene.

The indictment adds that even after the two left, the lawyer sent additional threatening messages in which he wrote, among other things: "I am not afraid and I will make sure they explain to you that you don't threaten, and money that is borrowed from me or from any person is returned; you went really far and there is no way back from there. You are welcome to complain and as I said, if the need arises, I will answer for it. I am not leaving you alone," and also, "Bye sweetie, they will check for me that you are at home from time to time just so I know to come. We need to talk, this time they came to check and said you were not at home so I didn't come - next time I will come."

Following the events, it is alleged, the complainant filed a complaint with the police and the lawyer was arrested. In his interrogation, he admitted that he was the one who sent the messages to the complainant and also that he contacted the others so that they would arrive at his house.

Initially, he provided a version according to which the purpose of sending the others was to check the complainant's mental state, but after being confronted with the content of the messages, which do not align with this version, he stated that the sending of the others was against the background of the threat that the complainant sent to the other person.