Permitted for publication: Name of lawyer accused of extortion by threats

The court accepted today, Friday, the prosecution's position and permitted the publication of the name of lawyer Alon Kriti, who is accused of extortion by threats against a person who borrowed money from him. Last Sunday, the Central District Attorney's Office filed an indictment in the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court against the 52-year-old lawyer, charging him with the serious offense of extortion by threats, after he allegedly threatened the complainant and even sent others to his home with the aim of compelling him to repay the debt.

According to the indictment, the two had a close friendship, and at the same time, the lawyer also represented the complainant in various legal proceedings. During 2025, the defendant lent the complainant about 50,000 shekels in cash, of which only about 30,000 shekels were returned. In addition, a relative of the lawyer, who was also a friend of the complainant, lent him an additional 20,000 shekels that were not returned, which led to the outbreak of a severe conflict between the parties.

Following the non-repayment of the funds, the lawyer began sending the complainant threatening text and voice messages via the WhatsApp application, in which he wrote that he had already discussed his matter with "a few guys" and that "within an hour" people would arrive at his home. Subsequently, the defendant sent two people to the complainant's home with the aim of intimidating him and causing him to return the money, while his 9-year-old son was with him at home. Following the events, the complainant filed a complaint with the police, and the defendant was arrested.

Parallel to the filing of the indictment, the prosecution requested the court to order the detention of the lawyer until the end of the legal proceedings. In the detention request, it is argued that this is a continuous, serious, and planned conduct, which included numerous threatening messages and sending people to the complainant's home with the aim of instilling fear in him. Now, with the lifting of the gag order, the full details of the case that has stirred the legal world are revealed.