Malka Leifer’s accusers blast Israeli ‘corruption’ that’s prevented her extradition

Three sisters who accuse their former headmistress, Malka Leifer, of repeatedly sexually abusing them lambaste what they referred to as the “corruption” of the Israeli government that has prevented Leifer’s extradition to Australia to face charges.

Earlier today, Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman was questioned by the police’s anti-corruption unit regarding allegations that he ordered the drafting of a false psychiatric opinion deeming Leifer unfit for extradition.

After fleeing to Israel in 2008 amid the allegations against her, it took authorities six years to arrest her. However, since 2014 she has claimed to be too mentally ill to be extradited to Australia, where she faces 74 charges of sex abuse.

“Waiting this many years for justice has been tremendously difficult and painful. However we waited patiently with the understanding that these criminal proceedings take time. To learn that this may in fact be due to corruption at the highest levels of the Israeli government is truly devastating,” said Dassi Erlich, Ellie Sapper and Nicole Meyer, the three sisters who accuse Leifer of repeatedly molesting them. “We hope this will be a significant step as the pieces come together to paint a clearer picture and bring us the justice we’ve been fighting for!”