New twist in Malka Leifer case
Israeli media reported have that Israeli Police are preparing to charge Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman for using his position to illicitly provide assistance to alleged sex offenders, according to a report released last week by the Kan public broadcaster.
Yaakov Litzman
One of these alleged sex offenders is Malka Leifer.
In 2000, Leifer was recruited from Israel to work at the Adass Israel ultra-Orthodox girls’ school in Melbourne. Eight years later, when allegations of sexual abuse against her began to surface, members of the school board purchased a flight to Israel for her to avoid her being charged.
So far she has been considered mentally unfit for extradition to face 74 charges of child sexual abuse.
Litzman, who is also the chairman of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he responds without prejudice to all pleas for assistance his office receives.
The police are slated to hand down their decision concerning Litzman ahead of the September elections, but their recommendation to indict is expected to be pending a hearing, which would be held after the elections.
The Jerusalem District Court will hand down a final decision regarding Leifer’s mental fitness for an extradition hearing on September 23.
There is a possibility that the extradition of Malka Leifer from Israel to Australia is one small step closer.
