Alleged abuser Leifer’s extradition hearing deferred for yet another six months

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She has canvassed politicians in Australia and Israel to have alleged chid sexual abuser Malka Leifer extradited to Australia to face 74 charges, but survivor Dassi Ehrlich has learned the Israel former principal pf Melbourne’s Adass Israel school has once again successfully avoided the extradition hearing.

Dassi Erlich

Victoria Police’s  case for Leifer’s extradition has been thwarted by continual psychiatrist board reviews deciding she is not mentally fit to face a court.

Last week, Ms Leifer convinced yet another psychiatrist review board in Israel that she was too unwell to face an extradition hearing.

Malka Leifer

The 74 charges against her in Australia include rape. Survivor has discussed the case with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Canberra before the PM visited Israel last year. J-Wire understands that both Mr Turnbull and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews discussed the case with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Media reports claim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to review the case.

Dessi Erich visited Israel herself  last year where she had a series of meetings with politicians and media representatives.

Nonetheless, J-Wire correspondent in Israel reports that there has been no significant coverage of the Israeli board’s decision last week to defer Leifer’s hoped-for court appearance for yet another six months taking the delay for over the three years’ mark.

Dessi Ehrlich told J-Wire: “We were holding onto hope for a better outcome with this psychiatric panel. It is very upsetting but we have not given up and will continue working hard towards ensuring Malka Leifer returns to Australia and there is justice.”

Leifer fled from Australia in 2008 and in 2015 a Victorian court award $1.24 million to one of victims who had brought a case against the school itself.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry is profoundly disappointed by the latest decision by Israeli authorities that Malka Leifer is mentally unfit to face court hearings to determine whether she should be extradited to Australia.

This decision will cause further anguish to child sexual abuse survivors who have been demanding Ms Leifer’s extradition from Israel in their steadfast quest for some measure of justice and closure.

The ECAJ passed a resolution at its 2017 Annual Conference which expressed “solidarity with all who may have suffered by reason of the conduct of Malka Leifer” and praised “the courageous activism of Dassi Erlich and others on behalf of all survivors of child sexual abuse.” We called for the extradition of Malka Leifer without delay and we repeat that call at this time.

A spokesman said: “We will continue to offer whatever assistance we can provide to Ms Erlich and other survivors of child sexual abuse. We wish them continued strength and determination in their righteous struggle and hope that the Israeli authorities will see sense to compel Malka Leifer at long last to face justice.”

President of the Zionist Federation of Australia Dr Danny Lamm said:  “I reiterate my unwavering support and that of the Federation for the victims of sexual abuse in our community and in the wider community, and in particular for their courage in coming forward and sharing their painful experiences.

Malka Leifer must be brought to justice at the earliest opportunity

I presented a letter from Ms Erlich to Prime Minister Netanyahu in February 2017 and expressed our concern on the matter.  Whilst the Prime Minister was sympathetic to our cause, the question of Leifer’s extradition is a matter for Israel’s independent judiciary to determine free of political interference.

The ZFA has always placed very strong emphasis on child safety in our youth movements.  We are proud of the fact that with our assistance the Australian Zionist Youth Council obtained accreditation and appropriate training under the Safeguarding Children programme and that this is integral to all programmes conducted by the Federation.”