Australia: 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting female students

A former principal of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish school in Australia has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing two of his female students, 15 years after he fled to Israel and tried to be arrested.

15 years imprisonment

Malka Leifer, former religion teacher and principal of Adas Israel School in Melbourne, He was convicted in April 18 cases including rape of a student at her home and sexual assault of her sister during a class trip. He was acquitted of the third sister’s rape case.

Melbourne judge Mark Gamble sentenced him to 15 years in prison on Thursday, saying his “insidious crime” had scarred the two sisters for life. He said Ms Leifer was a ‘serious sex offender’ who showed ‘extreme disregard’ for her victims.

Mother of eight children

Ms Leifer, a mother of eight, fled to Israel in 2008 when rumors of her crimes began to spread. A dual Israeli and Australian citizen, he fought tooth and nail to prevent his deportation during more than 70 hearings before he was finally handed over. to Australia in 2021. As they left court, two sisters, Tassi Ehrlich and Ellie Sapper, welcomed the judge’s decision to “break down the walls of silence” of the socially radical Orthodox community from Melbourne.

“We’re here today because we never gave up,” Ehrlich said. “This struggle is not just for us. We show that the voices of survivors will not be silenced, no matter what the obstacles. “To anyone who has survived such a nightmare, you are not alone, we are all behind you,” he added.

“It will help you on your wedding night”

Dressed in a light blue prisoner’s uniform, Ms Leifer remained motionless as she heard the sentence via video link from Melbourne jail. From 2004 to 2007, Ms. Leifer was in charge of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish school when the two sisters were teenagers.

According to the indictment, Ms. Leifer sexually assaulted a student in 2006 after inviting her to sleep over for “Kallah lessons,” a type of premarital etiquette class. According to the prosecutor, he told students on several occasions that he was preparing to become a wife. “This will help you on your wedding night,” he told a student after she was sexually assaulted.

“It was a life where Jewish laws and customs were very important and strictly observed,” Judge Gamble said. According to the magistrate, this suffocating environment and Leifer’s reputation in the Adas community made it extremely difficult for victims to come forward.

(AFP)