Accused Melbourne teacher Malka Leifer fit to stand trial in Australia
Fugitive Melbourne principal Malka Leifer, who faces 74 charges of sexual abuse, has been deemed fit to stand trial in Australia after a court rejected her claim that she was mentally unwell.
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The alleged victims of fugitive Melbourne principal Malka Leifer say they are “shocked” and “incredibly happy” after she was declared “fit to face justice” in a Jerusalem court.
Last night’s decision was a major step forward in the bid to get Leifer to return to Australia to face claims of sexual abuse while she was head of Melbourne’s ultra orthodox Adass Israel School in Elsternwick.
Leifer was accused of abusing Melbourne sisters Dassi Erlich, Elly Sapper and Nicole Meyer when they were at the school.
Ms Erlich said after the hearing she was happy with the court’s decision.
“We are in absolute shock but this is an amazing shock. We are so incredibly happy and excited, we’ve been fighting six years for this and we can’t believe that this day has come,” she said.
The case has become a diplomatic sore point for Israel, with 67 hearings so far.
Judge Miriam Lomp accepted a psychiatric report that Leifer, who fled 74 charges of sexual abuse in Australia, was not mentally ill.
“I decided to take the expert panel’s recommendation, I decided the accused is fit to face justice,” she said according to a translation.
“As a result we will start the extradition process.”
Manny Waks, of Jewish victims’ rights group Kol v’Oz, said the decision was important.
“It’s an absolute momentous occasion today, and it’s because of this dogged pursuit for justice by her three courageous alleged victims that we are here today,” he said.
“Sure, Malka Leifer is not yet on the plane and there is some way to go but what we see now is she is fit to face justice.”
Mr Waks said the Adass Israel School needed to answer questions over allegations it alerted Leifer to abuse claims the sisters were due to file.
It was expected that Leifer’s lawyers would file an appeal, despite the judge saying that the court had left “no stone unturned”.
Tel Gabay, acting for Leifer, said “we claim she is unfit to stand trial.”
“We will send a message to the court and ask for the rest of the material,” he said.
“We have no interest in postponing this case, not even for a day. This case and any decision in it would have gotten to the Supreme Court. We ask to make it as urgent as possible.”
Leifer has been on remand in an Israeli jail.
The next hearing will be on July 20, as the marathon legal saga continues.
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Josh Burns, Federal MP for Macnamara, welcomed the decision.
“After six long years, 67 court hearings, finally Judge Lomp has declared what we knew all along – that Malka Leifer is fit to face extradition,” he said.
“Justice is finally arriving for the victims in Australia.
“Well done to three outstanding and inspiring women – Dassi, Nicole and Elly who have fought through this rollercoaster. We will all keep fighting until Leifer is in a Victorian courtroom facing justice.”