Ex-principal Malka Leifer faces court charged with sexually abusing students - The Age

Thirteen years after fleeing Australia over sexual abuse allegations, accused paedophile Malka Leifer has appeared before a Melbourne court and her three accusers.

Hours after arriving in Melbourne on Wednesday night following her extradition from Israel, Ms Leifer appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, holding her head in her hands.

The 52-year-old remained still and silent throughout the 15-minute hearing as she appeared via a video link, sitting at a wide table at North Melbourne police station.

Her only movement, other than to walk in and out of the room, was to hunch forward and rest her head on her arms and hands on the table. She wore a patterned jacket, head covering and face mask and did not say a word.

A police officer standing nearby confirmed they could hear what was being said in court.

The former principal of the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick faces 74 charges and is accused of sexually abusing three of her then students between 2001 and 2008.

Malka Leifer landed at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday night after being extradited from Israel.Credit:Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Sisters Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer, the women who allege they were abused as children by Ms Leifer, were among the 30 people watching Thursday’s hearing.

Ms Leifer has long maintained she is innocent.

She fled to Israel in 2008 when the allegations were first aired but was extradited this week following the decision of the Supreme Court of Israel, which dismissed her final appear and ordered she return to Australia to face prosecution.

The legal fight to have her return to Australia was waged over six years and comprised more than 70 court hearings in Israel.

Ms Leifer is to remain in custody until her next court appearance on April 9. She did not apply for bail on Thursday but could do so in the coming weeks.

More to come

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMijQFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL3ZpY3RvcmlhL2V4LXByaW5jaXBhbC1tYWxrYS1sZWlmZXItZmFjZXMtY291cnQtY2hhcmdlZC13aXRoLXNleHVhbGx5LWFidXNpbmctc3R1ZGVudHMtMjAyMTAxMjgtcDU2eGV2Lmh0bWzSAY0BaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAudGhlYWdlLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC92aWN0b3JpYS9leC1wcmluY2lwYWwtbWFsa2EtbGVpZmVyLWZhY2VzLWNvdXJ0LWNoYXJnZWQtd2l0aC1zZXh1YWxseS1hYnVzaW5nLXN0dWRlbnRzLTIwMjEwMTI4LXA1Nnhldi5odG1s?oc=5

2021-01-27 23:55:00Z
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