Tel Aviv, Jan. 25, (dpa/GNA) – Israel extradited alleged child sex abuser Malka Leifer to Australia early Monday following a lengthy legal battle.
Leifer, a former educator, is accused of sexually abusing several of her female students at the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel School in Melbourne. Leifer fled to Israel in 2008 after allegations from former students emerged, and she was subsequently suspended.
“I can confirm that the process of international transfer has commenced,” Leifer’s lawyer Nick Kaufman told dpa.
A source close to Justice Minister Benny Gantz said he welcomes Leifer’s extradition.
“We hope that in this way the Australian Jewish community and the Australian authorities will receive justice and that Malka’s victims will be able to begin the recovery process,” the source said.
Former justice minister Avi Nissenkorn, who signed the extradition order last month, tweeted: “The legal process was long and there were people who tried to pollute it.
As minister of justice, I promised not to delay the extradition order, and I acted as such. Malka Leifer’s victims will finally get justice.”
Critics, including Leifer’s alleged victims and the Australian government, have in the past accused Israeli authorities of dragging out the case for far too long.
Dassi Erlich, one of three sisters at the centre of the allegations, tweeted Monday: “Leifer is on the way back to Australia.”
Manny Waks, an advocate against child sex abuse, posted on Facebook: “This is an incredible day for justice!”
“We can now truly look forward to Leifer facing justice in Australia on the 74 charges she is facing,” he added.
Leifer’s flight left Israel just ahead of an almost complete closure of the international airport. The closure is a bid to prevent the arrival of new coronavirus variants.
“The Israeli authorities were expected to ensure the secrecy of the transfer operation and to ensure maximum respect for Ms Leifer’s dignity until she left Israeli jurisdiction,” Kaufman said.
“This clearly did not happen, given the fact that photographs of her being led in handcuffs and legcuffs were leaked to the press.”
The 52-year-old Israeli citizen faces 74 charges of child sexual abuse for offences allegedly committed between 2004 and 2008, first when she was a teacher and then as the school’s headmistress.
Leifer has been fighting extradition from Israel since 2014. Last month, she lost an appeal in Israel’s Supreme Court to block her extradition.
Australia’s Attorney General Christian Porter called the decision a “significant milestone which should provide alleged victims some hope.”
GNA