Australian Courtroom Finds Former College Principal Malka Leifer Responsible of Intercourse Crimes

SYDNEY (Reuters) – The previous principal of an Australian ultra-Orthodox Jewish College, Malka Leifer, was discovered responsible of sexually abusing two former college students by a Melbourne courtroom on Monday, native media reported.

Leifer, who additionally holds Israeli citizenship, was extradited to Australia from Israel in 2021 after fleeing the nation in 2008 when the accusations surfaced.

After a six-week trial, a jury discovered 56-year-old Leifer responsible of 18 sexual offences together with rape, indecent assault and penetration of a kid aged 16 or 17, in accordance with state broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Firm (ABC). The jury cleared her of 9 different costs, ABC reported.

The previous principal of Adass Israel College pleaded not responsible to all costs.

The County Courtroom of Victoria, the place the trial was held, and a lawyer for Leifer didn’t instantly reply to Reuters’ requests for remark.

Three sisters, Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper, accused Leifer of sexually abusing them between 2003 and 2007, after they had been youngsters. The courtroom discovered Leifer responsible of offences towards Erlich and Sapper however not Meyer.

“She abused the three of us for thus a few years and whereas immediately’s verdict might not correctly replicate that, immediately Malka Leifer was lastly held accountable,” mentioned Sapper exterior the courtroom on Monday.

“She is responsible and she or he might be held accountable. Justice was served immediately.”

Between 2014 and her extradition in 2021, Leifer fought her return to Australia, together with with a submission of psychological sickness. An Israeli courtroom in 2020 discovered Leifer was “faking” psychological incapacity and was match to face trial.

The three sisters alleged the offences befell on college grounds, in locked workers workplaces, on college camps and at Leifer’s residence, reported the ABC.

(Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Enhancing by Sharon Singleton)

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