New allegations of sexual misconduct have been made, this time in Israel, against former Victorian school principal Malka Leifer, who is wanted in Australia over charges of child sexual abuse.
Leifer travelled to Melbourne at the turn of the millennium to become principal at an ultra-Orthodox Jewish girls’ school in the suburb of Elsternwick, but returned to Israel in 2008 after being accused of abusing students in her care.
Lefier denies the allegations and her lawyer, Yehuda Fried, has quickly responded to the new allegations.
"The court in Israel only discusses the question of the competence of Ms Leifer to stand trial and does not deal with the question of the truth of the complaints," Fried is quoted as saying by Israeli media organisation Kan.
“We are certain that no noise will prevent the court from reaching the truth with the best professional tools at its disposal."
Kan said on Tuesday it had spoken to an unidentified woman claiming to have been abused by Leifer as a child in the city of Bnei Brak before the teacher left for Victoria.
“She would kind of cling to me,” Kan reports the woman as saying.
“One day she invited me to her house, but I have a blackout. I remember that I escaped to my house. I do not remember what happened, I’ve been trying to forget those years.”
Another student in Bnei Brak has accused Leifer of sexual misconduct from around the same time period, newspaper The Times of Israel reports, but she is not yet willing to go public.
Malka Leifer at a hearing at the District Court in Jerusalem last year. Source: Getty
Leifer is currently in a women’s prison in the Israeli city of Ramle as she waits to find out if she will be extradited back to Australia, where if she is returned, would face 74 charges of sexual abuse.
Supporters of the Melbourne women who have accused Leifer of abuse posted to social media after news of the fresh allegations surfaced.
“We feel encouraged and heartened by the bravery of those that are finding their voices- each new voice that rises above the fear of remaining silent is so valuable and important in helping to change the world into a better place,” a post from the Dassi Erlich; Beyond a Survivor Facebook page reads.
“The more courage that we can bring out into the world, the more safer and just the world will become.”
Earlier this month, an Israeli court ruled Leifer will remain in prison for the remainder of her extradition hearing, which resumes on March 6.
The court also ordered another psychiatric assessment be carried out, as Lefier’s lawyers argue her health is deteriorating.
Malka Leifer is wanted in Australia on child sex abuse charges. Source: SBS
Australia submitted Leifer’s extradition request back in 2012.
