Israel court says Australian teacher won’t be extradited for reasons of mental health
AN ISRAELI court says Melbourne teacher Malka Leifer, who is accused of sexually abusing children at a school, will not be extradited to Australia because of mental illness.
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AN ISRAELI court says Melbourne teacher Malka Leifer, who is accused of sexually abusing children at a school will not be extradited to Australia because of mental illness.
Ms Leifer’s lawyer said the Jerusalem District Court rejected the prosecution request and ruled that the woman should be dealt with “in the realm of mental illness.”
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Yehuda Fried says that likely means a years-long process before her extradition can be reconsidered.
But Israel’s Court Administration later said that the court will convene again on March 28 after the psychiatric evaluation has been carried out, indicating an extradition decision could be taken sooner.
Australia wants Ms Leifer, 54, extradited to face 74 accusations of sexually abusing female students at the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick in suburban Melbourne, where she had been principal between 2003 and 2008.
Leifer was arrested following an undercover investigation at Interpol’s request and is suspected of obstructing Israeli court proceedings by attempting to hide evidence.
Israeli police have said she is feigning mental illness to avoid extradition.
Leifer’s lawyer, Yehuda Fried, said earlier that the Jerusalem District Court ruled she should be dealt with “in the realm of mental illness.”
Fried said that likely meant a years-long process before her extradition can be reconsidered.
But Israel’s Court Administration later said that the court will convene again on March 28 after the psychiatric evaluation has been carried out, indicating an extradition decision could be taken sooner.
Leifer was arrested following an undercover investigation at Interpol’s request and is suspected of obstructing Israeli court proceedings by attempting to hide evidence.
An Israeli court previously stopped extradition proceedings after determining she was not fit to stand trial.
Originally published as Israel court says Australian teacher won’t be extradited for reasons of mental health