Israeli Pop Star Margol’s Mug Shots Leaked

By Renee Ghert-Zand August 23, 2011

According to a report by Israel’s Channel 2 News, someone is going to be in big trouble. And it’s likely going to be someone working in the Israeli Prison Authority.

Apparently, someone has leaked mug shots of Israeli singer and celebrity Margalit Tzanani (often referred to in the Israeli press by the nickname Margol) taken at the time of her arrest last week on the suspicion that she blackmailed, threatened and extorted her manager. The possibility that she was also involved in fixing the outcome of the Israeli “American Idol”-style show “Kochav Nolad” has been batted around in the press since her arrest.

Chances are that it was someone on the inside who is responsible for leaking the photos. Tzanani reportedly burst into tears in court when she found out that the pictures had been published and circulated. Prison officials have said that whoever is responsible for the leak will be fired immediately.

A source for the Channel 2 story said that leaking the photos may have been used as a means of exerting psychological pressure on Tzanani during the investigation against her. It would certainly not be the first time that law enforcement turned to such pressure when physical pressure was not an option, the source added.

Israel’s Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein issued a statement saying that he is very angry about the leak. “Every person deserves respect,” he said.

In the meantime, the singer, who has been associating with some shady and dangerous crime gang members — including her own son — has just been informed that she’ll be spending at least four more days in custody in the Neve Tirzah women’s prison in Ramle.

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