David Cyprys – suppression order lifted
Former security guard at Melbourne’s Yeshivah College David Cyprys has been facing charges in Melbourne’s County Court since last month of more than 40 offences against children in the 198os and 1990s….but proceedings have been subject to a suppression order until today.
The children involved were between 7 and 17 according to “The Australian”. The paper also reports that Cyprys has been found guilty by a jury of five charges of rape against one student. He has pleaded guilty to 12 charges of sexual assault involving eight other students.
Michelle Coleman, the wife of 44-yr-old Cyprys, currently on remand awaiting sentencing, has spoken out about the importance of sex education within the orthodox religious education system.
Manny Waks
David Cyprys
Manny Waks, CEO of child sexual abuse advocacy group Tzedek, reports:
Going into the trial, which opened on August 12, Mr Cyprys faced 40 charges of child sexual abuse related offences. There were 12 complainants in this case. Mr Cyprys entered not guilty pleas in relation to the first complainant – he was found guilty by a jury unanimously for all five rape charges. He subsequently accepted a plea deal. Mr Cyprys will be sentenced for a total of 17 charges – some of these are representative charges (multiple incidents of similar conduct). The charges relate to nine out of the 12 victims (three complainants agreed for their charges to be withdrawn as part of the plea deal). Mr Cyprys will be appear in court again on Friday 8 November.
Waks added:
“This is yet another important milestone in the context of the ongoing child sexual abuse scandal currently plaguing our community. It is a most welcome development – one that hopefully sends out a strong message that perpetrators of such crimes will be held to full account, irrespective of when the abuse occurred.
I would like to acknowledge and thank all the courageous victims in this case for ensuring that Mr Cyprys is held to account for his past crimes. He will now also not be a danger to other children – at least during the period of his incarceration.
From a personal perspective, I am particularly delighted that one of the perpetrators in my case is finally facing justice. It was in July 2011 that I went public with my story and it brings me immense satisfaction to reap the rewards, which have often been accompanied by significant personal costs. No amount of justice can undo the decades of pain and suffering but I take much solace in the fact that this criminal, who has done so much untold damage to so many, is finally being held to account. I would like to thank my family, friends and supporters for their ongoing support and encouragement.
Hopefully this development also encourages other victims of child sexual abuse to come forward and provide their vital information to the police. The police cannot prosecute these criminals without victims coming forward. I completely understand some of the challenges for victims to come forward – often it may trigger the traumas of the past. But if we are to attain justice for the past crimes and ensure the safety of our children in the future, everything must be done to prosecute these criminals.
Today’s development is a great opportunity to reflect on the Royal Commission, which is currently underway. We have commenced sharing the information we have with the Royal Commission. I have already testified in a private session before the Royal Commission and can attest to this incredible opportunity, which is being facilitated in a very sensitive and personal manner. I encourage all victims and survivors to register their interest to testify before the Royal Commission. Of course Tzedek can help facilitate this for victims and survivors of Jewish institutions.
The Royal Commission is precisely one of the forums where we intend to hold Jewish institutions to full account for their complicity in these crimes. In the case involving Mr Cyprys, as well as in other cases, we intend to hold the Yeshivah Centre to full account for covering up and enabling the ongoing abuse. They have a great deal to answer for and we will do everything in our power to ensure the full truth is uncovered and that those responsible are held to full account.
Finally, I encourage all Jewish victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to contact Tzedek for confidential advice and support. You no longer have to suffer in silence; we are here to assist you in every way possible.”
David Cyprys’s wife Michelle Coleman has issued the following statement:
Statement on the conviction of Samuel David Cyprys
“Among the hype and hysteria that this sort of case engenders, it’s important to bear in mind that the events in question occurred more than 20 years ago, and that a large number of the charges relate to incidents during which Cyprys himself was a school student aged less than 18 years.
“From the start the matter has highlighted the importance of child protection. Another matter that I would like to raise is the importance of sex education within Orthodox Jewish institutions. Had those involved been able to have frank discussions with teachers and mentors about religiously sensitive issues such as sexual contact prior to marriage and sexual orientation, a great deal of hurt and pain could have been avoided all around.
“Lastly, I would like to remind the public that David Cyprys has five innocent children and step-children. Over the past two years they have suffered isolation, ostracism and bullying, aside from the hurt and confusion engendered by the accusations against someone who they have only ever known as a kind and loving father. No doubt victims’ advocacy group Tzedek and its founder Manny Waks – with their commitment to ensuring the physical and emotional safety of children – would agree that these children too deserve to be protected.”
In July, former teacher at the same college David Kramer was found guilty of sexual offences against three boys at the same school.
Kudos to Manny Waks for getting Cyprys to justice. Accused pedophiles like Cyprys, Sylvain Kustyan, Jerry Sandusky, etc. (and their enablers) must be apprehended ASAP before they have years to continue to destroy young lives. Sandusky and Cyprys are now safely behind bars. But unfortunately, Kustyan, who has been formally charged with two counts each of 1st Degree Sodomy and Sexual Abuse of a ten-year-old little boy, fled to avoid imminent arrest. Kustyan, formerly of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Hermin/ Mazingarbe, France, is now a fugitive from the law. Perpetrators condemn their victims to a lifetime of emotional and psychological trauma and often permanent physical ailments as well. Since the average pedophile has 300 different victims in their lifetime and since the recidivism rate among pedophiles is virtually 100% and since there is no effective treatment and no known cure, they and their enablers must be stopped ASAP!
Wonderful work Manny Waks. Today you have made all our children safer. There is no excuse for molesting or raping children nor for protecting those who do.
I trust that the community will take heed of what Michele Coleman has written about the children and step children of David Cyprys in protecting these children as well as all other children.