Criminal lawyer charged with extortion over unpaid debt

A prominent Israeli criminal defence lawyer has been accused of extorting a debtor through threats and intimidation. Alon Kriti allegedly sent men to the debtor’s home and recorded threatening messages via WhatsApp, claiming he would be watching and directing their actions. In one message, Kriti reportedly wrote: “When they’re knocking on your door, I’ll be there on camera with them. I’m also giving the orders.” The debtor had allegedly borrowed money from Kriti and failed to repay it, prompting the lawyer to resort to what authorities say was illegal intimidation. In a separate message, Kriti allegedly hurled vulgar insults at the debtor, questioning his character. The case marks a significant fall from grace for a lawyer who specialised in criminal defence work. The allegations suggest Kriti took matters into his own hands rather than pursuing legal remedies through the courts to recover the outstanding debt.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.