Margalit Tsanani released to house arrest

Comes after prosecution request that 'Kohav Nolad' judge remain in custody over alleged threat posed by links to underworld figures.

By JOANNA PARASZCZUK
Tsanani 311 (photo credit: REUTERS/Yossi Zeliger/Israel Hayom)
Tsanani 311
(photo credit: REUTERS/Yossi Zeliger/Israel Hayom)
The Tel Aviv District Court ruled on Thursday to release singer and Kohav Nolad (A Star is Born) judge Margalit Tsanani to house arrest.Tsanani is being charged with extorting a previous agent.
The decision came after the prosecution had asked the court to remand her in custody for the duration of the trial because they alleged she posed a threat to the public because of her connections with underworld figures. 
However, the prosecution since reached an agreement with Tsanani's defense lawyers that the matter of her detention will be decided following a report by the probation service.
On Monday Margalit Tsanani and crime boss Michael Hazan were both charged with conspiring to commit a crime and acting jointly to extort Tsanani’s talent manager, Assaf Atadegi.
The indictment also mentions the role of southern crime kingpin Shalom Domrani, whom police arrested and detained in connection with the affair, but who was released to house arrest on Sunday after police failed to convince state prosecutors there was enough evidence to convict him.
Tsanani, for her part, has maintained her innocence. Her future trial is expected to shed more light on the case.
Tsanani's trial will commence in the Tel Aviv District Court next Wednesday, before Judge David Rozen.
JPost.com staff contributed to this report.