This circus has gone on long enough
Major Australian Jewish community leaders have reacted strongly about a further delay in alleged child sexual Malka Leifer extradition hearing in a Jerusalem court.
Jeremy Leibler
The Zionist Federation of Australia was disappointed to learn that the quest to bring alleged paedophile Malka Leifer back to Australia to face her day in court has been delayed yet again, this time due to Judge Chana Miriam Lomp’s decision to appoint a new expert panel of psychiatrists.
Jeremy Leibler, ZFA President said, “We were hopeful that this court hearing, which was supposed to judge Leifer’s mental fitness for an extradition trial, would be the turning point. Sadly, it adds to the long list of setbacks, delays and allegations of corruption that have marred this case for over five years since her arrest in 2015.”
“It is outrageous that Leifer’s victims have had to endure an excessive amount of court hearings – 57 to be exact – while over 30 psychiatrists have been paraded through in an attempt to determine whether Leifer is fit for trial. All of this before the actual trial has begun. How much more will Leifer’s victims have to tolerate? This circus has gone on long enough.”
Anton Block
Anton Block, the president of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, commented: “The case to extradite Malka Leifer to Australia drags on, having now come before the Jerusalem District Court 57 times. We share the depth of disappointment of sisters Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper who have been waiting for many years to see their alleged abuser brought to justice in Australia.
So many aspects of this case are simply scandalous: the recommendation by Israeli police that Israel’s Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman be charged with manipulating evidence; the unexplained reversals of testimony by Jerusalem District Pyschiatrist Jacob Charnes; the evidence that Leifer has been malingering; and the seemingly never-ending rounds of psychiatric assessments. As each court appearance passes without resulting in an extradition order, further trauma is inflicted on the survivors and the integrity of Israel’s institutions is undermined.”
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) expressed its deep disappointment that the extradition of Malka Leifer to face justice in Australia has been delayed yet again.
Dr Colin Rubenstein
Executive director Dr Colin Rubenstein told J-Wire: “It is disturbing that Leifer may be granted bail and continue to avoid facing the 74 charges of child sexual abuse from her time as Principal of the Adass Israel School in Melbourne while her mental health is assessed by a new panel of psychiatrists.
Given that it has been more than eighteen months since Leifer’s initial arrest, and over 10 years since her first alleged victims initially came forward, the additional delay must be a cause of great anguish to her alleged victims. We again call on everyone concerned to do everything in their power, consistent with the rule of law, to expedite the judicial processes which will hopefully see her finally face justice for her alleged crimes.”
Israel’s judicial system is a laughing stock, at least for this matter.