JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Tel Aviv man was sentenced to 14 months in jail for hacking American pop star Madonna’s computer and selling unreleased songs.
Adi Lederman, 38, who appeared in 2012 on Israel’s version of “American Idol,” admitted to computer trespassing, invasion of privacy and copying copyrighted works in order to sell them in a plea bargain accepted Thursday in Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court, the Israeli business daily Globes reported. He also was fined about $4,000.
The initial charges were more serious and had included illegal wiretapping, invasion of privacy, copyright violations and obstruction of justice.
Lederman, who was arrested in January, sold 27 unreleased tracks online from Madonna’s then-forthcoming album “Rebel Heart” after stealing them in December. Madonna called the theft “a form of terrorism” and the equivalent of “artistic rape” at the time.
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