Israeli jailed for hacking Madonna's computer

Tel Aviv - A former contestant in Israel's version of American Idol was jailed for 14 months on Thursday for hacking the computers of singers including Madonna, who had complained about unfinished tracks from her latest album being leaked online.

Under a plea bargain, Adi Lederman confessed to computer trespassing and infringement of privacy and property rights, Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court said, citing Madonna as one of his victims without specifying that he was behind the song leak.

Lederman was also fined 15 000 shekels ($4 000).

"The ease with which crimes such as this can be committed by those who have skills in the field, such as the accused, require an appropriate punitive response that has a deterrent and uncompromising message," the court said in a statement.

Lederman, 39, was arrested in January after an investigation assisted by the FBI. Police said he was suspected of selling songs he had stolen through hacking.

In December, unfinished tracks were leaked before the release of Madonna's Rebel Heart album.

Madonna has said the crime was an "invasion into my life - creatively, professionally and personally (that) remains a deeply devastating and hurtful experience".

Lederman previously made a brief appearance on A Star Is Born, Israel's version of American Idol, before being voted off. The court statement on Thursday said he had medical problems that had mitigated his sentence.