Malka Leifer guilty: Victoria Police probe of Adass Israel School board ‘a must’

A child sex abuse survivor is urging ­Victoria Police to re-open its ­investigation into members of the Jewish community who helped Malka Leifer escape justice for more than a decade.

Voice Against Child Sex Abuse chief Manny Waks. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

A child sex abuse survivor and key advocate for three Melbourne sisters who accused Malka Leifer of molesting them is urging ­Victoria Police to re-open its ­investigation into members of the Jewish community who helped the ultra-orthodox school principal escape justice for more than a decade, after buying her a ticket overseas instead of reporting the criminal allegations in 2008.

Members of the Adass Israel School board – Yitzhok Benedikt, Mark Ernst, barrister ­Norman Rosenbaum (now deceased), forensic psychologist Vicki Gordon and teacher Sharon Bromberg – met at community elder and businessman Izzy Herzog’s home on March 5, 2008, before a ticket was ­purchased for Leifer to depart Melbourne for Israel at 1.20am on March 6.

The school board knew about the abuse allegations at the time they met, according to a 2015 civil court judgment delivered by former Supreme Court judge Jack Rush.

Voice Against Child Sex Abuse (VoiCSA) chief Manny Waks, who has supported three of Leifer’s accusers since 2011, including by attending nearly all 74 of her extradition hearings in Israel, said he was “completely surprised” that police were not investigating the actions of the school’s leadership.

“We have that civil case ruling, which clearly identifies the Adass school leadership … in being responsible for assisting Malka Leifer and evading justice by purchasing a ticket and sending her overseas,” Mr Waks said.

“Based on those very basic facts, it would seem there would be sufficient information … to pursue this matter.”

Mr Waks said following Leifer’s County Court criminal trial, there may not be another opportunity to hold the school’s leadership accountable for their actions. “It would be a big slap in the face to the complainants and to the broader community as well in terms of what do we expect of institutions,” he said.

“Where is the deterrence? Where is the justice? Where is the accountability?

“It’s been very clear that the Adass Israel leadership has ­refused to be accountable in any way, shape, or form. Even something as basic as offering a public apology and taking responsibility for what happened under their watch to these three courageous complainants.

“I sincerely hope police will reconsider their ­position.”

The board’s decision to aid Leifer’s journey out of the ­country meant three accusers – Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper – would have to wait years and tell their story multiple times publicly before they would see their abuser face court.

Despite Justice Rush declaring the board’s failure to report the allegations to police was ­motivated by a desire to conceal her wrongdoing and to minimise consequences within the ­com­munity, Victoria Police said it concluded its investigation into the matter in 2018.

“An investigation was conducted by detectives from the Sano Taskforce into a number of people connected to a school in Elsternwick in relation to potential further offences linked to reports of sexual assault,” a spokeswoman said on March 8, 2023. “It was determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed with any charges … Any new information received will be thoroughly assessed.”