Malka Leifer's lawyer says his client has "significant mental health issues" and needs "special arrangements" in custody, as the former school principal has faced an Australian court for the first time on child sexual abuse charges.
Key points:
- Ms Leifer faced the Bail and Remand Court in Melbourne via video link
- Her lawyer did not apply for bail but asked for her to be transferred to prison as soon as possible
- The case has been adjourned until a committal mention on April 9
Ms Leifer left Australia in 2008 and was returned from Israel after a lengthy extradition process, landing at Melbourne Airport about 9:00pm on Wednesday.
The Bail and Remand Court in Melbourne heard the 54-year-old would face 74 charges.
Ms Leifer, who faced the court via video link, was non-responsive when Magistrate Johanna Metcalf asked if she could hear proceedings.
A police officer then confirmed the audio and video transmission was working at her end.
Ms Leifer's lawyer, Tony Hargreaves, said there were "significant mental health issues for Ms Leifer for which she required a number of different types of medication".
"The prison authorities are, or should be aware, that Ms Leifer has very strict religious beliefs so special arrangements will need to be made for her to comply with those religious beliefs," Mr Hargreaves said.
"She's in the custody of Victoria Police and there simply aren't facilities to properly accommodate her."
No application for bail
Mr Hargreaves did not apply for bail on behalf of his client, who had her head bowed in her hands and was slumped over a table for most of the brief hearing.
She was dressed in a white jacket and wore a disposable facemask, along with a white traditional white headscarf.
Ms Leifer has previously proclaimed her innocence, and was not required to enter a plea during the hearing.
Ms Leifer is currently undertaking 14 days of quarantine and is under police guard at an undisclosed location.
Mr Hargreaves requested she be transferred "to a prison as quickly as possible" for his client's mental health.
Prosecutor Phil Raimondo said a hand-up case brief would be provided to Ms Leifer's defence team by February 26.
The case was adjourned to a committal mention on April 9, with Ms Leifer to be remanded in custody.
The alleged victims in the case are Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper — three sisters who attended the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick while Ms Leifer was headmistress.
With the court proceedings occurring remotely, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court sat mostly empty.
Prosecutors and defence lawyers spoke remotely, while the three sisters also logged in to the virtual hearing.
Ms Leifer left Australia for Israel in 2008 and Victoria Police submitted a request for her extradition in 2014.
The country's Supreme Court rejected her final appeal against the extradition in December.
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2021-01-28 00:01:00Z
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