Psychotic incidents block extradition proceedings
J-Wire
20 January 2016
Malka Leifer
An Israeli woman facing extradition to Australia to from 74 charges of child sexual abuse suffers psychotic incidents preventing her from attending proceedings either in court or in her own home.
Malka Leifer, who now lives in Bnei Brak, fled to Israel from Melbourne in 2008 where she had been principal of the Adass Israel School.
The Times of Israel reports that the school psychologist warned her she was facing arrest.
Israel Radio reported that Jerusalem’s District Court has received the extradition request but was unable to hold a hearing “due to psychotic episodes she says she suffered before every single appearance”.
The Times of Israel report adds that the head of the Israel National Council for the Child had been contacted by some of Leifer’s alleged victims. The Council’s head Dr Yitzhak Kadman told TOI: “I don’t think Israel; should become an asylum for sex offenders.”
Suggestions that Leifer’s case could be heard in her home were answered by a court statement claiming that “according to professionals’ medical opinions, hearing cannot be held in the presence of Malka Leifer and attempts to hold a hearing in her home are also impossible. No pill can help before a court hearing”.
Manny Waks, founder of the Australian child sexual abuse group Tzedek and himself a victim now lives in Israel. He told J-Wire: “It’s imperative that Israel does everything within its power to ensure that Leifer is extradited back to Australia to face justice.
These periodic medical issues, which conveniently arise immediately prior to each court hearing, should not prevent justice from occurring.
There are ways to handle such issues and Israel should be seen to be doing everything within its power to ensure that justice is pursued and that the interests of the alleged victims are put first. Israel must nut become a safe haven for Jewish criminals and alleged criminals from around the world.”
Originally published at J-Wire.
Malka Leifer, who now lives in Bnei Brak, fled to Israel from Melbourne in 2008 where she had been principal of the Adass Israel School.
The Times of Israel reports that the school psychologist warned her she was facing arrest.
Israel Radio reported that Jerusalem’s District Court has received the extradition request but was unable to hold a hearing “due to psychotic episodes she says she suffered before every single appearance”.
The Times of Israel report adds that the head of the Israel National Council for the Child had been contacted by some of Leifer’s alleged victims. The Council’s head Dr Yitzhak Kadman told TOI: “I don’t think Israel; should become an asylum for sex offenders.”
Suggestions that Leifer’s case could be heard in her home were answered by a court statement claiming that “according to professionals’ medical opinions, hearing cannot be held in the presence of Malka Leifer and attempts to hold a hearing in her home are also impossible. No pill can help before a court hearing”.
Manny Waks, founder of the Australian child sexual abuse group Tzedek and himself a victim now lives in Israel. He told J-Wire: “It’s imperative that Israel does everything within its power to ensure that Leifer is extradited back to Australia to face justice.
These periodic medical issues, which conveniently arise immediately prior to each court hearing, should not prevent justice from occurring.
There are ways to handle such issues and Israel should be seen to be doing everything within its power to ensure that justice is pursued and that the interests of the alleged victims are put first. Israel must nut become a safe haven for Jewish criminals and alleged criminals from around the world.”
Originally published at J-Wire.