The former head of an Orthodox Jewish school in Melbourne will be extradited to Australia to face charges of sexually abusing her students.
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Malka Leifer, a former principal of the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick, fled to Israel in 2008 after the school board sacked her following complaints of inappropriate conduct with students.
The Australian Attorney-General's Department said Mrs Leifer had been arrested in Israel in response to an extradition request made by Australia.
"Ms Leifer is wanted to face prosecution in Victoria for alleged sexual assault offences," a spokesperson said.
The Israeli news website Ynet reported overnight that a resident of Emmanuel, a settlement town in the West Bank, was arrested on Sunday.
It said the woman was suspected of sexually abusing three sisters at an Orthodox high school in Melbourne between 2004 and 2008.
They said one victim had attempted suicide.
The parents, who would not be named, said that Mrs Leifer would share her bed with different students when her rabbi husband was away.
"It's very sensitive, because a girl who has been molested would find it hard to get married, so it's very secret, hush-hush - no one wants to admit their child is a victim," a parent told The Age at the time.
Sergeant Sharon Darcy from Victoria Police said the Moorabbin sexual offences and child abuse investigation team was investigating complaints of historical sex offences at an Elsternwick School.
"As this is a current investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further," Sergeant Darcy said.
The extradition comes as a former student is taking legal action against Mrs Leifer and the Adass Israel School for breach of duty.
Solicitor Nick Mazzeo, of law firm Lennon Mazzeo, confirmed one of his clients’ cases is listed for trial in May 2015, seeking damages for pain, suffering and economic loss.
Ynet reported that the arrested woman fled to Israel two days after details of about 74 sex offences allegedly committed against the three sisters were revealed.
It said the extradition request had been filed by the State Attorney's Office in Jerusalem District Court.
Manny Waks, the CEO of Jewish child sexual abuse victim advocacy group Tzedek, welcomed the development.
"It should be seen in the greater context of the ongoing child sexual abuse scandal that has been plaguing the Australian Jewish community in recent years where we have seen numerous convictions in both Melbourne and Sydney," Mr Waks said.
"This is further evidence that the tide is turning within our community; many victims are no longer willing to remain silent, and neither is the community.
"Their courage should not be understated – as we have recently seen, it has not been easy for victims within our community to disclose their abuse and to pursue justice."
He said he hoped the police would examine all the circumstances surrounding Mrs Leifer’s flight from Australia and hold to account anyone who may have acted inappropriately.
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“This is a most welcome development. It should be seen in the greater context of the ongoing child sexual abuse scandal that has been plaguing the Australian Jewish community in recent years where we have seen numerous convictions in both Melbourne and Sydney. This is further evidence that the tide is turning within our community; many victims are no longer willing to remain silent, and neither is the community. I commend the alleged victims in this case for their courage and tenacity in pursuing this matter. Their courage should not be understated – as we have recently seen, it has not been easy for victims within our community to disclose their abuse and to pursue justice. The community must unequivocally stand by these alleged victims. I hope and expect that the Adass Israel School will cooperate fully with the police in ensuring justice is achieved. I also hope and expect that the police will examine all the circumstances surrounding Mrs Leifer’s flight from Australia and to hold to account anyone who may have acted inappropriately. I commend the police for vigorously pursuing this matter – this sends a clear message; that irrespective of the time passed these crimes will be pursued. Finally, I would like to urge anyone with information regarding this matter to share this with the police immediately.”
“This is a most welcome development. It should be seen in the greater context of the ongoing child sexual abuse scandal that has been plaguing the Australian Jewish community in recent years where we have seen numerous convictions in both Melbourne and Sydney. This is further evidence that the tide is turning within our community; many victims are no longer willing to remain silent, and neither is the community. I commend the alleged victims in this case for their courage and tenacity in pursuing this matter. Their courage should not be understated – as we have recently seen, it has not been easy for victims within our community to disclose their abuse and to pursue justice. The community must unequivocally stand by these alleged victims. I hope and expect that the Adass Israel School will cooperate fully with the police in ensuring justice is achieved. I also hope and expect that the police will examine all the circumstances surrounding Mrs Leifer’s flight from Australia and to hold to account anyone who may have acted inappropriately. I commend the police for vigorously pursuing this matter – this sends a clear message; that irrespective of the time passed these crimes will be pursued. Finally, I would like to urge anyone with information regarding this matter to share this with the police immediately.”
“This is a most welcome development. It should be seen in the greater context of the ongoing child sexual abuse scandal that has been plaguing the Australian Jewish community in recent years where we have seen numerous convictions in both Melbourne and Sydney. This is further evidence that the tide is turning within our community; many victims are no longer willing to remain silent, and neither is the community. I commend the alleged victims in this case for their courage and tenacity in pursuing this matter. Their courage should not be understated – as we have recently seen, it has not been easy for victims within our community to disclose their abuse and to pursue justice. The community must unequivocally stand by these alleged victims. I hope and expect that the Adass Israel School will cooperate fully with the police in ensuring justice is achieved. I also hope and expect that the police will examine all the circumstances surrounding Mrs Leifer’s flight from Australia and to hold to account anyone who may have acted inappropriately. I commend the police for vigorously pursuing this matter – this sends a clear message; that irrespective of the time passed these crimes will be pursued. Finally, I would like to urge anyone with information regarding this matter to share this with the police immediately.”
