Key Points
- Malka Leifer faced trial over sexual abuse of teenage girls allegedly perpetrated when she was a school principal.
- In April, she was found guilty of 18 of 27 charges relating to the abuse of two sisters.
- Before the case went to court, authorities spent more than a decade trying to extradite her from Israel.
This article contains references to child abuse and sexual assault.
Former school principal Malka Leifer will spend up to 15 years in jail for the sexual abuse of former students Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper.
It comes nearly two decades after the abuse began and 12 years after three sisters first made statements about Leifer to police.
The sentencing is the culmination of a legal battle that spanned from Melbourne to Israel, involving numerous delays and eventually extradition.
This is how Malka Leifer groomed and abused students and student teachers, and their long road to justice.
Who is Malka Leifer?
Leifer arrived as menaheles - or principal - of the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel School in 2001.
In 2008, she was dismissed by the school board after allegations were raised and left the country, travelling to Israel.
It's been alleged she fled using a plane ticket paid for by the Addas School.
It has recently been reported that Victoria Police has reopened an investigation into the conduct of those at the Elsternwick school at the time.
The school is part of the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel Jewish community in Melbourne.
According to a 2016 , which consisted of about 2,000 people, it attempts to maintain age-old rituals by remaining as self-sufficient as possible.
The conservative society was understood to have its own shops, schools, butcher, baker, synagogue, cemetery, and even its own ambulance service.
The Adass Israel school in Melbourne where Malka Leifer was principal. Source: Getty / Darrian Traynor
When was Malka Leifer first accused?
In 2011, Erlich and Sapper, along with their sister Nicole Meyer, made police statements about sexual abuse by Leifer when they were students and junior religious studies teachers at Adass Israel School between 2003 and 2007.
After being pursued by the Australian and Israeli justice systems, Leifer spent years challenging her extradition back to Australia to face pending charges.
The Australian government made a request to Israel in 2013 to extradite Leifer so she could face the 74 charges laid against her by Victoria Police.
Leifer was first arrested in Israel in 2014 and placed under house arrest, only to be let free on the condition she undertook psychiatric assessments.
The judicial process to have Malka Leifer extradited to Australia was drawn out, with progress slow due to complications with ongoing appeals. Source: AAP / Mahmoud Illean
Since that time, Leifer has been bailed and re-imprisoned a number of times across a drawn-out appeals process.
In 2019, her case even saw Israel's deputy health minister Ya'acov Litzman summoned for questioning by Israeli police.
There were suspicions he had played a role in obstructing the extradition of Leifer.
Melbourne sisters (left to right) Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyers travelled to Jerusalem to attend court where Malka Leifer's possible extradition was being considered. Source: AAP / Abir Sultan
A total of 74 hearings were held in Israeli courts in regard to Leifer's case.
Her final failed appeal took place in December 2020, at which point, Israel's justice minister finally approved her extradition.
In January 2021, more than a decade after fleeing to Israel, Leifer was extradited to Australia.
Malka Leifer on trial in Australia
The matter went to trial at the County Court of Victoria in February, with Leifer initially facing 29 charges including multiple rape and indecent assault charges.
She was acquitted of two charges during proceedings as it was found the relevant legislation had not been in place during the alleged offending.
Following six weeks of hearing evidence, jurors deliberated over nine days before handing down their 18 guilty verdicts.
Leifer was acquitted of nine charges — including all five brought by prosecutors over the alleged abuse of Meyer.
Malka Leifer sentenced to 15 years in jail
Leifer will be eligible for parole after serving 11-and-a-half years.
She has already served more than five-and-a-half years of the sentence, with Judge Mark Gamble taking into account time in custody in Australia and Israel.
In a three-hour sentencing hearing, Judge Gamble detailed the grooming and abuse Leifer inflicted upon the sisters, who were struggling with a difficult home life.
She knew about their home life and took advantage of their vulnerabilities to abuse them for her own gratification, the judge said, adding that her important role at the school gave her the ability to foster a close relationship and make them believe she loved and cared for them.
He said the level of intimacy and duration of her crimes was disturbing and callous, and that her actions were predatory in nature and involved the exploitation and manipulation of two very vulnerable victims.
Malke Leifer was found guilty of abusing Melbourne sisters Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper and acquitted of abusing their older sister Nicole Meyer. Source: AAP / James Ross
"I am not convinced Mrs Leifer has in any way reformed," he said.
Outside court, Sapper described it as a momentous day.
"Today's ruling of 15 years recognises the harm and pain that Malka Leifer caused each one of us to suffer over so many years," she said.
"Trauma from sexual abuse is a lifelong sentence and while no amount of years will ever be sufficient we are relieved that Malka Leifer is now in prison for 15 years and cannot prey on anyone else."
The sisters hope they can now put this trauma behind them.
"I definitely in that courtroom today felt the pain of my younger self that went through that abuse, I could feel those emotions coming up as the judge was speaking," Erlich said outside court.
"Knowing that's not where we are anymore, we're not powerless anymore, that was a very felt sense today."
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit . In an emergency, call 000.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information is available at and .
Anyone seeking information or support relating to sexual abuse can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380.
