High Court rules alleged sex offender Malka Leifer fit to stand trial, can be extradited to Australia
The High Court of Justice unanimously rejected an appeal filed by alleged sex offender Malka Leifer in the extradition proceedings pending in her case, paving her way for extradition back to Australia where she will stand trial.
Malka Leifer in court June 14, 2018 Photo: Hillel Maeir/TPS
A three-member panel in Israel’s highest judicial entity ruled that Leifer’s mental condition did not preclude her extradition to Australia.
Now that the appeal has been dismissed, the extradition request itself will be ruled on. The parties have already argued this issue before the District Court and the decision is currently waiting for approval.
The court’s decision that Leifer is mentally fit for trial follows some six years of legal proceedings against the alleged offender.
A psychiatric panel in January decided that the alleged sex offender, who escaped to Israel from Australia, is mentally fit to stand trial and has been feigning mental illness.
Former Health Minister Yaakov Litzman was embroiled in the controversy when the police exposed his aid to have Leifer kept in Israel and declared unfit to stand trial.
Leifer, a former Ultra-Orthodox girls’ school principal, is charged in Australia with dozens of cases of child abuse. She fled to Israel in 2008 following allegations that she had sexually abused students at the Adass Yisroel school in Melbourne on 74 different occasions.
Zionist Federation of Australia President Jeremy Leibler welcomed the Supreme Court decision. “Video and other evidence made it obvious that Leifer was faking mental incapacity. This unanimous rejection of her appeal by the Supreme Court helps restore faith in a system that allowed Leifer’s alleged victims to wait for so long. It is past time to bring Leifer back to face justice in Australia.”
Child sexual abuse advocate Manny Waks said: “This decision was completely expected, as it’s been clear to practically everyone following this case – including countless experts – that Leifer has taken the Israeli judicial system for a major ride. In their ruling, even the judges said that proceedings had dragged out ‘much beyond what is reasonable’.
With Leifer’s legal avenues running out, we hope and expect that we now see her swiftly sent back to Australia where she will face her accusers.
Once that has occurred, a full review needs to take place in Israel to find out why this particular case has dragged out so long and whether allegations of political interference are substantiated.
Again, we commend and continue to fully support Leifer’s courageous victims, Nicole, Dassi and Elly.”
Alleged victim Dassi Erlich said: “6 years and 70 court hearings regarding Leifer’s mental fitness! We are exhilarated, finally an end in sight!
The Supreme court has rejected Leifer’s mental fitness appeal.
During this tumultuous journey, there were moments that this did not seem possible!
Bring on Sept 21 and an extradition decision!
Beyond excited!”
And about bloody time !!