Principal accused of abuse avoiding extradition "at all costs": victims group
The Age
Henrietta Cook
23 January 2016
A former principal who fled to Israel after allegedly molesting her students is doing "whatever she can" to avoid extradition to Australia, a victims support group says.
Malka Leifer, the former principal of the Adass Israel School in Melbourne is under house arrest in Israel and authorities have been trying to extradite her to Australia for more than a year.
The former head of the Orthodox Jewish school is wanted on 74 counts of sexual assault.
Michelle Meyer, the chief executive of Jewish victims support group Tzedek, said Ms Leifer was avoiding extradition "at all costs."
Advertisement"She is using whatever strategies she can to avoid being extradited. She is avoiding appearing in court and is claiming she is not fit to appear in court."
Ms Leifer claims she has suffered panic attacks ahead of every court appearance.
According to reports from Israel Radio, the Jerusalem District Court has heard evidence from mental health experts that the former principal's panic attacks are genuine.
Her lawyers have requested that the court reject the extradition request because of Ms Leifer's mental state.
Ms Meyer said she had spoken to the Israeli attorney involved in the extradition and they were "taking the matter very seriously".
"It is intolerable for these poor victims. It is causing them significant emotional pain and suffering. The court process is part of the healing, part of the closure."
In September, one of Ms Leifer's victims was awarded more than $1 million in damages – one of the state's largest payouts in a child sex abuse case – for the trauma she suffered at the hands of her principal.
The former student said she was 15 when the abuse started. It took place between 2003 and 2006 at the school's Elsternwick campus, at Ms Leifer's home and on school camps. Another student allegedly abused by Ms Leifer has also initiated legal action.
Police are investigating the behaviour of the Adass Israel School board, who arranged to fly Ms Leifer out of the country after allegations of abuse were raised in 2008.
"The investigation remains active and ongoing," a police spokeswoman said.
On Thursday, another abuse survivor came forward and wrote about her experience on the website of victims advocate Manny Waks.
The abuse survivor said she had been suffering in silence for a long time.
"The nightmares, constantly, the days where food does not matter, the constant flashbacks every time her name is mentioned , the shroud of secrecy because you don't want to be ostracised for wanting justice to prevail," she wrote.
"It has been 18 months since Malka Leifer was arrested!! Where is justice?"
Originally published at The Age.
Malka Leifer, the former principal of the Adass Israel School in Melbourne is under house arrest in Israel and authorities have been trying to extradite her to Australia for more than a year.
The former head of the Orthodox Jewish school is wanted on 74 counts of sexual assault.
Michelle Meyer, the chief executive of Jewish victims support group Tzedek, said Ms Leifer was avoiding extradition "at all costs."
Advertisement"She is using whatever strategies she can to avoid being extradited. She is avoiding appearing in court and is claiming she is not fit to appear in court."
Ms Leifer claims she has suffered panic attacks ahead of every court appearance.
According to reports from Israel Radio, the Jerusalem District Court has heard evidence from mental health experts that the former principal's panic attacks are genuine.
Her lawyers have requested that the court reject the extradition request because of Ms Leifer's mental state.
Ms Meyer said she had spoken to the Israeli attorney involved in the extradition and they were "taking the matter very seriously".
"It is intolerable for these poor victims. It is causing them significant emotional pain and suffering. The court process is part of the healing, part of the closure."
In September, one of Ms Leifer's victims was awarded more than $1 million in damages – one of the state's largest payouts in a child sex abuse case – for the trauma she suffered at the hands of her principal.
The former student said she was 15 when the abuse started. It took place between 2003 and 2006 at the school's Elsternwick campus, at Ms Leifer's home and on school camps. Another student allegedly abused by Ms Leifer has also initiated legal action.
Police are investigating the behaviour of the Adass Israel School board, who arranged to fly Ms Leifer out of the country after allegations of abuse were raised in 2008.
"The investigation remains active and ongoing," a police spokeswoman said.
On Thursday, another abuse survivor came forward and wrote about her experience on the website of victims advocate Manny Waks.
The abuse survivor said she had been suffering in silence for a long time.
"The nightmares, constantly, the days where food does not matter, the constant flashbacks every time her name is mentioned , the shroud of secrecy because you don't want to be ostracised for wanting justice to prevail," she wrote.
"It has been 18 months since Malka Leifer was arrested!! Where is justice?"
Originally published at The Age.