Malka Leifer Found Guilty of Multiple Sexual Assaults After Fleeing Australia, Israel

Former school principal Malka Leifer has been found guilty of multiple sexual assaults after evading justice for over a decade. Leifer, who fled Australia in 2008 to Israel, was accused of carrying out several sexual assaults on two of her students and then student teachers at Adass Israel School in Melbourne between 2004 and 2007. The case against Leifer has been a long and arduous journey for her victims, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper. It wasn’t until late 2007 or early 2008 that Dassi Erlich disclosed Leifer’s abuse to a social worker, who then raised the alarm with a psychiatrist connected to the school community. In February 2008, a psychologist reached out to the school, expressing concerns about Leifer’s interactions with students. This led to an urgent school board meeting on March 5, 2008, where Leifer was confronted with the allegations. Despite denying the accusations, she was informed that she would be suspended. However, the events that unfolded next are now subject to a reopened police investigation. What is known is that Leifer hastily left the country for Israel in the early hours of the following day. The pursuit of justice continued despite Leifer’s escape. In 2014, the sisters provided police statements that led to Victoria Police charging Leifer and initiating an extradition process. Additionally, in 2015, Dassi Erlich filed a separate civil legal action against the school. In a significant victory, she was awarded more than $1.2 million in damages, as the court found the school directly liable for Leifer’s misconduct. However, obstacles arose when an Israeli court ordered Leifer to be released from home detention in 2016 due to her severe mental illness. The extradition case appeared to have stalled until 2018 when sustained political pressure and advocacy efforts, including from former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu, contributed to Leifer’s re-arrest and the resumption of the extradition process. The year 2020 marked a turning point. In her 74th court appearance, Leifer’s extradition to Australia was finally confirmed. And now, in February 2023, justice is being served as Leifer’s trial begins in Victoria’s County Court. The victims, Erlich and Sapper, have waited patiently for this day to see their abuser face the consequences of her actions. After a thorough trial, in April 2023, Malka Leifer has been found guilty of 18 offenses, including six counts of rape. However, it is important to note that she has been found not guilty of nine offenses, including charges related to all incidents involving Nicole Meyer and some relating to Dassi Erlich. The verdict for the charges she was acquitted of may be disappointing for some, but it is crucial to respect the legal process and the evidence presented. With this landmark verdict, a chapter is closed on a long and painful journey for the victims. The sentence that Malka Leifer will receive for her crimes remains to be seen, but justice has finally caught up with her. This case shines a light on the significance of persistence, the need for support structures for survivors, and the importance of international collaboration to bring predators to justice, regardless of where they hide.