Israeli indicted for hacking Madonna's files

A former talent show contestant-turned-hacker has been formally indicted for computer trespassing and three other charges in Israel this week.

Adi Lederman, 39, confessed to infiltrating singer Madonna's personal files and that of at least 14 others as part of a plea deal that puts him in jail for 14 months. Sources, including the BBC, report he also confessed to computer trespassing and infringement of privacy and property rights.

The Tel Aviv court said in a statement that such cyber crimes "require an appropriate punitive response that has a deterrent and uncompromising message."

Lederman, a one-time contestant on Israeli TV show A Star Is Born, is also responsible for a 15,000 shekel (almost $4,000) fine. The court's statement reportedly revealed that medical issues suffered by Lederman caused the reduction of his sentence.

His lawyer told the court that Lederman hadn't harbored criminal intent, but was instead a "very fired-up and impassioned collector who went too far."

In December, Madonna was forced to rush-release six tracks from her Rebel Heart album because their unfinished prototypes were leaked months ahead of schedule. Although Lederman had access to the tracks, the court did not directly link him to the leak.