Alleged day school molester appears in Australia court

David Cyprys worked as a security guard and youth group counselor at the Yeshivah College Orthodox boys’ school

SYDNEY, Australia (JTA) — A former employee at a Jewish school in Melbourne who is charged with sexually assaulting students appeared in an Australian court.

David Cyprys, 44, who worked as a security guard and youth group counselor at the Yeshivah College Orthodox boys’ school, was in Magistrates Court in Melbourne on Monday for a committal hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial.

He has been charged with 53 counts of gross indecency of minors, indecent assault, rape and other misdemeanors involving 12 alleged victims, one of whom asked the magistrate to have his name published in the media. Magistrate Luisa Bazzani denied the request on Monday.

Cyprys, who is Jewish, was working at the school at the time of the alleged offenses between 1984 and 1991. The school also houses the headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in Melbourne.

The case is being heard in a closed court.