Community welcomes Leifer decision
Major community organisations have welcomed media reports that a psychiatrist panel has Malka Leifer found her fit to face an extradition trial.
Malka Leifer, a former school principal, who is wanted on 74 charges of sexual abuse in Melbourne, Australia, is led out of the Jerusalem District Court. Jerusalem, Jun 14, 2018. Photo by Hillel Maeir/TPS
The panel is scheduled to present its findings to a court in Jerusalem on Tuesday 14 January. Australia seeks Leifer’s extradition to face 74 charges of sexual molestation and rape, allegedly conducted whilst principal at a religious school in Melbourne.
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said on Friday, “News that the panel has found Malka Leifer fit to stand trial is a very welcome development.” He continued, “I look forward to this being made official on Tuesday, and for the extradition trial to begin soon after. In the name of justice, Leifer needs to be extradited to Australia to stand trial here. Her alleged victims have waited too long already.”
AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein commented:
“Reports about the panel’s finding on Leifer suggest we may at last be seeing a light at the end of the tunnel in the process of seeking justice for Leifer’s victims. While we are mindful that the Court has not yet made its ruling, and further delays remain possible, any step that brings Leifer closer to facing a court in Melbourne to answer for her alleged crimes is most welcome. Both the survivors and the Australian community at large have already waited far too long to see Leifer extradited and brought to justice.”
Looking forward to a successful result on Tuesday, the co-CEO of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin told J-Wire: “This very positive development will be reassuring to the alleged victims of Malka Leifer, who have campaigned heroically for her extradition for so long.
We have every expectation that this psychiatric assessment will be accepted by the court on Tuesday and that Leifer will be expedited to face trial in Australia, without further delay.”
