Israeli TV talent show judge denies extortion charges

Israel’s A Star Is Born TV singing competition has a new reality spin-off – a criminal case against one of its judges, accused of using strongarm tactics to ensure she got a cut of a former contestant’s earnings.

Margalit Tsanani was indicted yesterday along with her alleged enforcer on extortion charges which both have denied.

According to the charge sheet, Ms Tsanani, popularly known as “Margol,” co-managed along with a musical agent the career of a former contestant.

But the agent withheld Ms Tsanani’s cut and she went to legal arbitration, which she won.

The agent refused to pay and Mr Tsanani hired an enforcer -– nicknamed “Tooth Puller”– to collect, the indictment said.