Former ultra-Orthodox Jewish principal Malka Leifer jailed for 15 years for sexually abusing sisters

Elly Sapper says she and her sisters can finally move on after Malka Leifer was sentenced to 15 years behind bars for sexually abusing them while principal of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish school.

Leifer was found guilty of assaulting and raping two sisters.

Fifteen years after their abuser fled the country, sisters Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer finally have justice.

Their former principal Malka Leifer, 56, was on Thursday jailed for 15 years with a non-parole period of 11½ years for sexually abusing Ms Sapper and Ms Erlich while they were pupils at the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel School.

She was cleared of all charges relating to Ms Meyer.

Speaking outside the County Court, Ms Erlich said the sentence meant her and her siblings could finally move on.

“This has been one of the most traumatising, destabilising and awful, painful paths to justice,” she said.

“But today really marks the end of this chapter of our lives and opens the chapter to us healing.”

Sisters Dassi Erlich, Elly Sapper and Nicole Meyer outside the County Court after Malka Leifer was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing them. Picture: Ian Currie

Leifer showed little emotion during the more than three-hour long sentencing hearing.

She shed a single tear that rolled down her cheek towards its conclusion.

Judge Mark Gamble said Leifer took “callous advantage” of Ms Sapper and Ms Erlich and abused them for her own perverse sexual gratification.

He said she betrayed her role as a trusted educator and mentor, describing in detail the impact of her abuse.

“Ms Erlich describes herself as a traumatised adult,” he said.

“She feels a sense of shame for having allowed the abuse to occur and for not being able to erase the pain that it continues to cause her despite having undergone the burden of years of therapy.”

Judge Gamble said Ms Sapper’s ability to trust others had been tarnished, but he commended the sisters for their resilience and for seeing themselves as survivors rather than victims.

“They were completely innocent victims of the predatory behaviour of Mrs Leifer and it is she and she alone who should feel guilty and ashamed for what occurred,” he said.

Outside court, Ms Sapper said she was grateful Leifer had been brought to justice.

“Today is a precedent for female perpetrators. Malka Leifer has finally been held accountable,” she said.

“Today’s ruling of 15 years recognises the harm and pain that Malka Leifer caused each one of us to suffer over so many years.

“Trauma from sexual abuse is a lifelong sentence.”

Leifer was the principal of the Adass Israel School. Picture: David Crosling

Leifer arrived in Australia from Israel in 2001.

After a six-week trial, Leifer was in April found guilty by a jury of 18 charges of assaulting and raping Ms Sapper and Ms Erlich between 2004 and 2007 when they were students at the Elsternwick school.

When sexual abuse allegations first emerged in 2008, Leifer boarded a flight in the middle of the night, allegedly with the help of senior school officials, and fled for Israel.

The move meant she evaded Australian courts for more than a decade and few thought she would ever come back.

She was charged in 2014 but mounted a years-long battle against extradition.

Leifer was taken into custody in Israel in 2018 and spent time under house arrest before she was brought back to Melbourne in 2021 to face trial.

Leifer arrived in Australia with her husband and children in 2001 to work at the school.

She was head of religious studies and made principal in 2004.

Judge Gamble said the sisters had a “miserable” upbringing that was marred by physical and emotional abuse.

That enabled Leifer to groom them by making them feel special and cared for, he said.

“There is something disturbing and callous about such conduct,” he said.

“It was predatory in nature, involving as it did the exploitation and manipulation of two very vulnerable victims over whom she had absolute control.”

The sisters had little knowledge of the world outside their insular Jewish community and were not taught sexual education.

The abuse began in private meetings in which Leifer told Ms Erlich she was her “favourite student” and professed her love and support for her like a mother.

Judge Gamble said Leifer gauged the sisters’ response to touching over clothing before it escalated to sexual assault and eventually rape.

Much of the offending took place on school grounds including Leifer’s office and at her home.

Sisters Elly Sapper, Nicole Meyer and Dassi Erlich. Picture: Ian Currie

It continued when the sisters finished school and became student teachers themselves.

Judge Gamble detailed the circumstances of each charge which included six counts of rape, six counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual penetration of a 16 or 17 year old under supervision and three counts of indecent assault of a 16 or 17 year under supervision.

He noted Leifer continued to deny the charges, displayed no remorse and not taken part in any sexual offender rehabilitation programs while in custody.

“I am not convinced that Ms Leifer has in any way reformed,” he said.

He found Leifer also exaggerated mental health issues to delay extradition proceedings.

Outside court, Ms Erlich shared a message for other abuse survivors.

“To any other survivors in this nightmare, you are never alone, we are all behind you,” she said.

Deputy Liberal Party Leader David Southwick, who campaigned for Leifer to be brought back to Australia, said it had been a long path to justice.

“Hopefully, this will help bring them the healing and closure that they so fundamentally deserve,” he said in a statement.

Dr Cathy Kezelman, President of Blue Knot Foundation, which provides support for people affected by trauma, said the sisters had fought long and hard to have their voices heard.

“No sentence is ever adequate to redress the harm of child sexual abuse, but at least there is some sense of justice today,” she said.

With time served, Leifer will be eligible for parole in 2029.

As an Israeli citizen, she will likely be deported after her release.

Timeline

2001: Israeli teacher Malka Leifer arrives in Melbourne to teach at the Adass Israel school in Elsternwick. She is made principal in 2003.

March 2008: The school’s board is made aware of sexual abuse allegations against Leifer.

Leifer and her family flea for Israel, allegedly with help from members of the Adass community.

2011: Elly Sapper, followed by her sisters, make statements to police about the abuse.

2014: Victoria Police announce Leifer is wanted on sexual assault and rape charges. Leifer is placed under house arrest in Israel and fights extradition.

June 2016: An Israeli court halts extradition proceedings and lifts her house arrest order after her lawyers argue she is too unwell to attend court. Her mental health is to be reviewed every six months.

March 2017: Ms Erlich mounts her #BringLeiferBack campaign. Pressure builds on Israeli and Australian officials over the extradition.

May 2020: An Israeli court finds Leifer is fit to stand trial and can be extradited to Australia.

January 2021: Leifer is extradited to Australia. She is held at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbourne’s west.

September 2021: Leifer is committed to stand trial in the County Court.

February 2023: Leifer’s trial begins. The three sisters give evidence in closed court.

April 2023: Leifer is found guilty of guilty on 18 of the 27 charges against her. She is cleared of all charges relating to Ms Meyer.

August 2023: Leifer is jailed for 15 years with a non-parole period of 11½ years. She will be eligible for parole in 2029 due to time served.