BREAKING: More sex abuse charges for Malka Leifer
More charges have been laid against former ultra-orthodox school principal Malka Leifer, who has been ordered to stand trial over child sexual abuse allegations.
Malka Leifer, a former school principal, is led out of the Jerusalem District Court. Jerusalem, Jun 14, 2018. Photo by Hillel Maeir/TPS
An additional 20 charges have been laid against the 55-year-old, AAP confirmed on Friday. The charges are also child sexual abuse-related.
Leifer formally pleaded not guilty to 70 charges of child sexual abuse last week after being ordered to stand trial over the alleged abuse of sisters Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper during Leifer’s time at the Adass Israel School in Melbourne’s inner suburbs between 2004 and 2008.
Four charges were dropped during Melbourne Magistrates Court proceedings last week after it was revealed during a fortnight-long committal hearing that some of the alleged offending took place in Israel.
The Jerusalem Post reported Israel’s Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar had agreed to an additional 20 charges being laid against Leifer.
His approval was required under extradition rules which allowed Leifer to be brought back to Australia to face court over the allegations.
She was extradited to Australia in January this year.
Leifer, who is in custody, is due to face Victoria’s County Court for a directions hearing on October 21.
Karen Sweeney/AAP
