Fugitive Principal Malka Leifer dubbed a ‘fraud’ by Israeli prosecutors
Israeli prosecutors have moved to fast-track extradition proceedings against Malka Leifer, after a psychiatric panel concluded the former Melbourne principal was faking her illness.
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Israeli prosecutors have moved to expedite extradition proceedings against fugitive principal Malka Leifer.
In a significant development in the long running case prosecutors have dubbed Leifer a fraud and accused her and her supporters from preventing Israeli authorities from fulfilling their obligation to Australian counterparts..
Leifer, a former principal at ultra orthodox Jewish Adass Israel School in Elsternwick, is wanted by Victorian police who plan to charge her with more than 70 child sex offences if she ever returns to Melbourne.
The mother of eight has been on the run since fleeing to Israel after allegations were first levelled at her in 2008.
She has resisted extradition arguing she is too mentally unwell to face extradition proceedings, but a psychiatric panel has decided that she has been faking her illness.
Now Israeli prosecutors have asked the Jerusalem District Court to fast-track extradition proceedings.
“The prosecution believes that the psychiatric panel’s definitive conclusions, have removed the obstacles that stood in the way of any significant progress in this case, thus enabling the court to bring this case to a timely and swift conclusion,” a justice department spokesperson said.
“The psychiatrist panel’s findings lead to the inevitable conclusion that over the past five years, the court and mental health system have fallen victim to a fraud perpetrated by Leifer and her supporters,” the spokesperson said.
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Members of Victoria’s ultra orthodox Jewish community were accused of helping to fund Leifer’s life on the run.
In 2015 the Supreme Court of Victoria awarded one of Leifer’s alleged victims $1 million in damages over the abuse.
Leifer did not contest the civil suit brought against her.