Fresh delays in Malka Leifer extradition case
A JERUSALEM judge has dashed hopes that Israel would quickly extradite sex abuse suspect Malka Leifer to Australia, after a new delay in proceedings.
Preliminary court hearings were delayed this week after Ms Leifer’s legal team argued an assessment of her mental state was not yet complete.
“Dumfounded by the news, our hearts are heavy with despair,” said Dassi Erlich, one of several women claiming they were abused by Ms Leifer when they were students at the Melbourne Charedi school that she headed.
Ms Erlich said that the accusers had been “silenced once again in the face of yet another stalling tactic to delay justice”.
It came after a moment of optimism for her alleged victims earlier this month when, after years without any movement in the case, Ms Leifer was suddenly rearrest- ed and taken to court.
Many believed she would be quickly sent to Australia for trial on 74 charges. Israeli police said its covert investigations demonstrated she was faking claims of mental illness that had previously convinced the court to freeze extradition proceedings against her. After Ms Leifer was rearrested on February 12, a judge ordered for her to be institutionalised and for her mental state to be assessed.
It emerged on Tuesday that the psychiatrist’s new study — which is complete, but not yet signed — concludes she is fit to face trial for extradition.
State prosecution lawyer Matan Akiva said extradition proceedings should now be jumpstarted, but defence lawyer Yehuda Fried managed to delay a preliminary court hearing until he receives all evidence in the case. He also said the extradition trial would take “years”. Ms Leifer’s defence rejects claims that footage of her performing everyday activities prove that she was faking mental illness.