Yet another sex abuse case
Allegations have emerged that another major Jewish organisation in Australia has been caught up in a child sex abuse scandal.
A man appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on more than 25 counts of child sex abuse, it can be revealed. But a court suppression order prevents the publication of his name, the name of the Jewish organisation and the names of the alleged victims.
The defendant entered a “not guilty” plea and is scheduled to face court again next month, with a trial date expected to be set for next year. He is not believed to be Jewish. The alleged incidents took place around 2000 during a trip overseas.
“It’s devastating to learn of the additional serious allegations of child sexual abuse and cover up within our community,” said Manny Waks, who broke his silence last year on allegations he was sexually abused at Yeshivah College two decades ago. “These new revelations highlight that instances of child sexual abuse are not unique to one segment within our community.”
Spokespeople for the organisation embroiled in this latest scandal declined to comment. This is now the third Jewish organisation implicated in child sex abuse scandals after allegations emerged in 2008 against Malka Leifer, the then principal of the Adass Israel girls’ school in Melbourne, and against Yeshivah College, which has been in damage control since last year when it emerged that 12 students claimed they had been sexually abused at the Chabad-run school in Melbourne, mostly in the 1980s. Leifer has denied the charges.
The news comes a week after PM Julia Gillard called for a royal commission of inquiry into institutional child sex abuse.
