Indecent assault charges against philanthropist, 96, dropped

Charges have been dismissed against a 96-year-old philanthropist­ with dementia who was accused of indecently­ touching two female­ carers at his Sydney­ home.

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Charges have been dismissed against a 96-year-old philanthropist­ with dementia who was accused of indecently­ touching two female­ carers at his Sydney­ home.

Aron Kleinlehrer appeared in a wheelchair and with a cane for a hearing at Downing Centre Local Court, where Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge decided four charges of aggravated indecent­ assault should be dismissed on mental­ health grounds.

Aron Kleinlehrer arrives at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Wednesday to face charges of indecent assault. Picture: AAP

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Mr Kleinlehrer was alleged to have indecently touched two female carers, aged 20 and 31 at the time, in his Vaucluse­ home between April and December­ 2017.

The police case alleged he grabbed one woman’s breast and — despite her stating his behaviour was unwelcome — later allegedly grabbed her buttocks and vagina, all on the outside of her clothing.

The other woman was allegedly­ subjected to “forced kissing” after he asked her to scratch a painful area of his chest on Christmas night.

Aron Kleinlehrer was earlier this year awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his work as a Governor of The Emmanuel school in Randwick and as a patron of the arts and donor to Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Ballet. Picture: John Appleyard

The woman, who had worked as one of Mr Kleinlehrer’s carers for three months, also claimed he had asked her if she was a virgin.

The prosecutor did not oppose the mental health application made by defence­ barrister Nancy Mikhaiel, but asked for an order that Mr Kleinlehrer’s carers all be trained in dealing with a patient of such condition.

Ms Mikhaiel submitted Mr Kleinlehrer’s alleged offending was “a sad product of his slip, his decline into dementia”.

Mr Kleinlehrer’s defence barrister said the offences were “a sad product of his slip, his decline into dementia”. Picture: John Appleyard

The magistrate said material­ before her, including a psychiatrist’s report diagnosing­ Mr Kleinlehrer with dementia­, supported the matter being dealt with under section 32 of the Mental­ Health Act “but with a very strict treatment plan”.

If Mr Kleinlehrer’s service provider or GP reported “one scintilla of noncompliance” to her orders, the elderly man would be brought back before court, she said.

The Order of Australia Medal recipient­ was honoured in January 2017 for his contribution to the arts in sponsoring Opera Australia, the Sydney­ Symphony Orchestra and The Australian Ballet.