Former Ma'ariv reporter indicted for blackmailing publisher

Eitan Rabin, a former reporter for the Ma'ariv daily, has been indicted for extorting the newspaper's publisher Ofer Nimrodi and eavesdropping on his conversations.

According to the indictment submitted to Tel Aviv Magistrate's court, a device used to record Nimrodi's conversations was found in Rabin's home.

Rabin had been fired six months ago.

Rabin allegedly met with Yoram Trubovitz, chief of staff at the Prime Minister's Office, and played him recordings of Nimrodi's conversations.

The indictment also says that after Rabin threatened to reveal the content of the tapes, Nimrodi instructed his attorney to look into the possibility of reinstating Rabin and canceling interest payments on a NIS 400,000 loan that he took out through Ma'ariv.

Communications between the two sides ceased after Rabin informed Nimrodi's representatives that he had no intention of handing them the tapes.

Nimrodi turned to police after Rabin's attorney stated that members of the media would be interested in obtaining the recordings.

Following Nimrodi's complaint, police took Rabin in for questioning under warning, and obtained several of his recordings.