Police resume probe into how Leifer fled to Israel
Police have resumed an investigation into the board of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish school where Malka Leifer worked before she fled the country while facing sex abuse allegations.
Malka Leifer
The former principal of Melbourne’s Adass Israel School was booked on a flight to Israel in 2008 with the help of a board member’s wife, one day after she was fired when school officials were made aware of abuse claims against her.
The flight was paid for by a company associated with the board president and later reimbursed by the school, the Victorian Supreme Court previously heard.
Police were not contacted about the abuse allegations prior to Leifer’s departure.
Investigators launched a probe into how the principal was able to abscond in 2015 but paused it during criminal proceedings against Leifer.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman told AAP that investigation had resumed after the former principal’s trial and conviction.
“An investigation by the Sexual Crimes Squad into offences linked to a school in Elsternwick is currently ongoing,” she said on Saturday
“As such, and given matters linked to this remain before the court, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
Leifer was extradited to Australia in 2021 following a decade-long effort.
She is currently in prison awaiting sentence after being convicted of sexually abusing two former students when she was principal and head of religion at the school in the 2000s.
A jury found her guilty of sexual abuse of sisters Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper.
Leifer was acquitted of abusing their older sister, Nichama Meyer.
AAP
