OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: A man employed in the home of Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz was charged Thursday with attempting to spy for the Black Shadow hackers, who are purportedly linked to Iran.

According to the indictment published by Israel’s justice ministry, Omri Goren Gorochovsky, a 37-year-old resident of the central city of Lod, was arrested on November 4. An arrest warrant for Gorochovsky said he had an extensive criminal history, including five convictions and prison time served for various offences including bank robbery, raising questions as to how he was hired to work in the home of one of Israel’s top security officials.

In a separate statement, the Shin Bet domestic security agency said Gorochovsky never gained access to “classified materials” and therefore did not successfully share state secrets. Gorochovsky and his partner worked as cleaners in Gantz’s home in Rosh Haayin outside Tel Aviv, the indictment says.

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Late last month, the Black Shadow hackers claimed a cyberattack targeting an Israeli internet service provider which attracted widespread media attention.

In Gorochovsky’s charge sheet, Black Shadow is described as “affiliated to Iran”.

Following the high-profile cyberattack, Gorochovsky allegedly contacted Black Shadow via Telegram on or about October 31 with an offer to pass information from Gantz’s home. Using a false name, Israel says the suspect “identified himself as someone working in the home of the Israeli minister of defence, and noted his ability to assist the group in various ways”.