Published: 11 October 2019
Last updated: 4 March 2024
ISRAEL'S SUPREME COURT overnight overturned a decision to release alleged sexual predator Malka Leifer to house arrest and ordered that she remain behind bars for the remainder of the legal proceedings against her.
Judge Anat Baron overruled a decision made earlier this month by the Jerusalem District Court, which had ordered Leifer be released to house arrest while a psychiatric panel is convened to determine whether she has been feigning mental illness in order to avoid extradition to Australia, where she is wanted on 74 charges of child sex abuse.
Baron cited Leifer’s fleeing of Melbourne in 2008, before she could be charged there, and determined that the risk was too high she would bolt once again if released to house arrest.
The judge also dismissed the defence’s argument that the Jerusalem District Court’s decision to order the convening of a psychiatric panel showed that Leifer may not be mentally fit for extradition and should thus be released on bail.
DASSI ERLICH STATEMENT
"We've been waiting every day for a week to hear this news. It was such a huge relief to hear this news."
MANNY WAKS
"Today's ruling is an important one - for Leifer's courageous alleged victims, for other victims of child sexual abuse and for those of us who have been losing faith in the Israeli justice system."
FULL STORY Supreme Court overturns release of alleged pedophile Leifer on bail (Times of Israel)
Malka Leifer's case is shaking the Australian Jewish community's faith in Israel (Guardian)
MICHAEL VISONTAY: There are, today few crimes more universally reviled than the sexual abuse of children. Our disgust goes beyond the violation and lifelong emotional scars, to the nature of betrayal. The very people entrusted with protecting the most vulnerable have become the source of their worst nightmares. The royal commission highlighted the cultures of denial, concealment and enabling that allowed perpetrators to keep abusing and escape justice.
This is perhaps why the Malka Leifer case, more than any other issue, has shaken the Australian Jewish community’s faith in Israel’s commitment to justice and made it more permissible to openly criticise the government. This is no small change.
