Malka Leifer’s alleged victims speak out after fugitive principal ‘fit to face justice’

Malka Leifer’s accusers are one step closer to bringing their alleged abuser to justice, but ex-premier Ted Baillieu has warned the fight is far from over. It comes after an Israeli court ruled the fugitive principal was fit to face justice after a seven-year battle.

Sisters Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer have welcomed the news of Malka Leifer’s extradition. Picture: David Crosling

Former Victoria Premier Ted Baillieu believes the decision to start the extradition process for alleged sex abuser Malka Leifer shows the Israeli justice system is “back on track” — but warned the fight was far from over.

Ms Leifer is wanted on dozens of charges relating to child sexual abuse from her time as the principal of Melbourne’s ultra orthodox Adass Israel School in Elsternwick.

Leifer is accused of abusing Melbourne sisters Dassi Erlich, Elly Sapper and Nicole Meyer when they were at the school.

“This is a very substantial move in the right direction and most importantly it is a just step,” Mr Baillieu said this morning.

He appeared alongside the sisters and alleged sex abuse victims, as well as federal Labor MP Josh Burns and state Liberal MP and David Southwick at a media conference this morning.

In Israel, Judge Miriam Lomp accepted a psychiatric report that Leifer, who fled 74 charges of sexual abuse in Australia, is not mentally ill and also “fit to face justice”.

The case has become a diplomatic sore point for Israel, with 67 hearings so far.

Mr Baillieu said the move last night without “shenanigans and nonsense” was positive, but it should have happened much sooner.

“To take seven years to get to a hearing is just unfair,” he said.

Malka Leifer arrives for a hearing at the District Court in Jerusalem on February 27, 2018,

The ex-premier said the long awaited decision was a continuation of that process and there was a “long way to go”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was called by Israel President Reuven Rivlin about the case tonight. Mr Morrison told him that while the decision could be appealed, it was a welcome development in the extradition process and would be a great relief for the victims and their families.

Ms Leifer fled to Israel in 2008 after allegations first emerged and her extradition has stalled multiple times since charges were laid in 2013.

Ms Erlich said the decision was “just staggering”.

“We have watched again and again as Malka Leifer first abused us and then used those same tactics in the Israeli Court system. And for so long it felt like she was getting away with it,” Ms Erlich said.

The process had bruised but not broken them, she said.

Ms Meyer said the decision was “vindicating” and they felt humbled to have government and community support.

Ms Sapper said she couldn’t wait to see Ms Leifer face trial.

“So many emotions … I can’t put into words what we felt … (but) a huge sense of relief and joy.”

Mr Burns said the development was a big step towards justice and “we will not rest until that happens”.

He praised the bravery and strength of the sisters for speaking out.

Mr Burns met with Israeli President Reuvin Rivlin when he visited Canberra in February and pressed him to investigate the extradition delays.

In January, an Israeli psychiatric panel concluded the former school leader had lied about suffering from mental illness and declared her fit to stand trial.

A translation of Judge Lomp’s decision said: “I decided to take the expert panel’s recommendation, I decided the accuser 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 claims 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 June 23, as the marathon legal saga continues.

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