A Melbourne woman who is an alleged victim of accused paedophile Malka Leifer has expressed her relief after the former school principal failed to block her extradition from Israel to Australia.
Three Melbourne sisters – Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer, and Elly Sapper – who have filed police reports about Leifer were pleased with the news.
“It is incredible to reach this point after so many years,” Ms Erlich told AAP.
“A decision that we dreamed of happening and never gave up hope. We await the justice minister’s signature and facing Malka Leifer in court in Australia.”
All three sisters are alleged victims of Leifer, a former Melbourne school principal who has been accused of 74 charges of child sexual abuse.
On Tuesday the Israeli Supreme Court threw out a last-ditch attempt by Leifer’s lawyers to block her extradition to Australia.
Shortly after the verdict, Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn tweeted he welcomed the ruling and would sign off on the extradition order “without delay”.
“After many long and torturous years, the time has come to do justice … I intend to sign the extradition order without delay,” he said.
Leifer’s offending is alleged to have occured at the ultra-orthodox Adass Israel school more than a decade ago. Leifer has denied the allegations against her.
Leifer left Australia when the allegations against her surfaced in 2008 and has remained in Israel since.
Australia lodged an extradition request for Leifer in 2014, but her case has been repeatedly delayed.
Leifer’s lawyers have continually argued she is unfit to face extradition due to poor mental health.
Two years later she was re-arrested, after a police investigation cast doubt on those health claims.
Leifer’s lawyer says that, if she is convicted, any sentence handed down against his client should be served in Israel.
“We note that the Supreme Court acknowledged both Malka Leifer’s mental health issues and that the unique nature of her religious way of life will present considerable difficulties for her in an Australian prison,” Nick Kaufman said.
“These are considerations which, in our opinion, fully justified the long battle to safeguard her basic human rights,” he told the Associated Press on Wednesday.
Voice Against Child Sexual Abuse chief executive Manny Waks praised the three sisters for their efforts to extradite Leifer to Australia.
“This has been a battle which these sisters should never have had to fight. They have done so with grace and dignity at all times.
“They are heroes in every sense of the word,” he said.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information is available at BeyondBlue.org.au and lifeline.org.au.
Anyone seeking information or support relating to sexual abuse can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380.
