Leifer: Who is saying what…and the timeline of a gruelling experience
Sisters sexually molested by their ultra-Orthodox Jewish principal Malka Leifer felt a wave of relief and validation as they learned their abuser would spend years behind bars.
Dassi Erlich, Elly Sapper and Nicole Meye leave the Victorian County Court in Melbourne, Thursday, August 24, 2023. AAP Image/Joel Carrett
Leifer was jailed for 15 years on Thursday by Victorian County Court Judge Mark Gamble after a jury convicted her of 18 charges, including rape and sexual assault.
She was principal and head of religious studies at the Adass Israel School in Melbourne’s inner east when she abused Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper between 2004 and 2007.
Leifer was ordered to serve at least 11-and-a-half years of the sentence for the offending, described by the judge as insidious, callous and calculated.
But he took into account 1129 days spent in prison in Israel while fighting her extradition and 940 days in Australia, leaving at least six years to be served before she’s eligible for parole.
Outside court, Ms Sapper described it as a momentous day.
“Today’s ruling of 15 years recognises the harm and pain that Malka Leifer caused each one of us to suffer over so many years,” she said.
“Trauma from sexual abuse is a lifelong sentence and while no amount of years will ever be sufficient we are relieved that Malka Leifer is now in prison for 15 years and cannot prey on anyone else.”
The sisters campaigned for years to bring Leifer to justice, and Ms Erlich said it was because they had not given up that they had the result today.
“While we know the onus of fighting for justice should not be up to survivors, this fight was never just for us,” she said.
“We are showing that the voices of survivors will not and cannot be silenced no matter the obstacles.”
The experience was traumatic and destabilising, and she didn’t think she would have got through it had she not had her sisters by her side.
Leifer was acquitted by the jury of nine charges, including five against the siblings’ older sister, Nicole Meyer, who was in court every step of the way.
She said their expectation when it came to Leifer’s sentence was so low the result gave them immediate relief.
“Female perpetrators are so under-reported and we had nothing to base it on,” she said.
“We just felt so grateful that we felt validated in that exact moment.”
Judge Gamble observed in the sentence that the sisters were resilient and surprisingly optimistic despite Ms Sapper feeling guilt for what happened to her.
“They were completely innocent victims of the predatory behaviour of Mrs Leifer, and it is she and she alone who should feel guilty,” Judge Gamble said.
Ms Erlich said with this chapter closed, they would continue to ensure survivors had a voice.
“You are never alone, we are all behind you and we will continue to ensure that our collective voices will not be unbreakable,” she said.
The Timeline
2001
* Malka Leifer arrives from Israel at Melbourne’s Adass Israel School
2003 – 2006
* Alleged abuse of Nicole Meyer – charges 1-5
2004 – 2006
* Abuse of Dassi Erlich – charges 8-19
2006 – 2007
* Abuse of Elly Sapper – charges 22-29
2008
* Leifer is dismissed by school board after allegations raised, travels to Israel
2011
* The sisters make statements to Victoria Police
2014
* Leifer is arrested on 74 charges and held on home detention. Extradition proceedings begin
* Ms Sapper sues for damages and receives a confidential out-of-court settlement
2015
* Ms Erlich is refused an out-of-court settlement. She sues and is awarded damages
2016
* Leifer is found unfit to face an extradition trial
2017
* Ms Erlich launches #BringLeiferBack
* Ms Meyer receives a confidential out-of-court settlement
2018
* Israeli Police accuse Leifer of feigning mental illness
* Jerusalem’s chief psychiatrist recommends that Leifer is fit to face an extradition hearing
2019
* Two psychiatrists tell a court Leifer is fit to be extradited, another two say she is not
2020
* Leifer is found mentally fit to stand trial and then mentally fit for extradition in her 71st court hearing
* The extradition order is signed
2021
* Leifer arrives in Melbourne shortly before borders close because of the COVID-19 pandemic
* She is ordered to stand trial and pleads not guilty
2023
* Leifer pleads not guilty again when her Victorian County Court trial begins in February
* In April, jurors convict her of 18 offences relating to Ms Erlich and Ms Sapper. She is acquitted of nine charges, five of which related to Ms Meyer and four involving Ms Erlich.
* Leifer is sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 11.5 years, with about five-and-a-h alf years already served.
The community
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “We stand by all of the survivors of Leifer’s abuse, and hope today will bring a measure of justice for them. The courage, dignity and determination of Dasi, Nicole and Elly inspired our whole community.”
Daniel Aghion, President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, commented: “I was in court to support the sisters, who have so bravely persisted on their quest for justice. I am satisfied that the sentence matches the severity of the offending. On behalf of the JCCV, I express an overwhelming sense of relief that this process has concluded. Every person in the Victorian Jewish community has a responsibility to do our utmost to protect children from harm. We stand with Dassi, Nicole and Elly, whose courage and tenacity is an example to us all. Today’s proceedings bring to mind the famous quote by American-Jewish Supreme Court Judge Louis Brandeis that sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
Manny Waks, CEO of Voice against child sexual abuse, said: “Today is an incredible day for justice. The sentencing of Malka Leifer is the pinnacle of a drawn-out David vs. Goliath battle and marks a significant step towards justice for the courageous survivors – sisters Nicole, Dassi and Elly – who have endured immense pain and suffering due to Leifer’s criminal and heinous actions. The survivors’ bravery in coming forward to the police and sharing their stories publicly has led us to this moment, and they deserve our utmost respect and support. I hope that today’s sentencing will assist in their healing process.
We are pleased that Victoria Police is continuing to investigate the alleged criminal actions of the Adass Israel School leadership in facilitating Leifer’s evasion from justice in 2008 by spiriting her out of Australia to Israel in the darkness of night. We hope and expect that they, too, will be held to full account.”
Peter Wertheim, co-CEO of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, added: “This is a momentous day, not only for thos who survived Malka Leifer’s abuse but also for the cause of justice. We sincerely hope the survivors can find some closure after so many years of being denied justice.”
Liberal State MP David Southwick said: “She cannot hurt innocent children anymore.
This verdict marks the end of a deeply painful and traumatic saga and serves as a sobering reminder of the work we need to keep doing to keep our children safe.
Most importantly, today is about justice for Dassi, Elly, Nicole, and all survivors. Hopefully, this will help bring them the healing and closure that they so fundamentally deserve.
As a proud member of Melbourne’s Jewish community and someone who, for years, has had close with the case against Malka Leifer, it has been a long and turbulent path to justice.
We must acknowledge a difficult truth: the school system utterly failed these women, who were innocent, vulnerable children when these horrendous crimes were committed against them. In the years since, they have waited and fought for justice to be served, despite years of heart-wrenching setbacks and uncertainty.
This is why we must acknowledge the unfathomable bravery of Dassi, Elly and Nicole. No person should have to endure what they have gone through.
Their strength, fearlessness and enduring sense of purpose has been inspiring.
It is also important to recognise the countless Jewish community members, political leaders from across the spectrum and many wider members of the Victorian community who have rallied around them.
Today, we can all hold our heads high and stand in solidarity with Dassi, Nicole and Ely and all survivors of abuse. After years of trauma, the time for healing and closure has finally come.”
1800 RESPECT (1800 73 7 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
AAP/J-Wire
