Malka Leifer

July 3, 2019, 7:37 am

Child advocates blast systemic failures in Israel’s handling of sex abuse cases

Political culture, stringent slander laws, inadequate sentencing and a taboo against reporting make it difficult to prosecute suspects, critics say

By Sam Sokol

(R) Deputy health minister Yaakov Litzman seen during a press conference after meeting with president Reuven Rivlin at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on April 15, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); (L) A private investigator tagged Malka Leifer as she spoke on the phone, while sitting on a bench in Bnei Brak, on December 14, 2017. (Screen capture/YouTube)

June 21, 2019, 9:47 pm

Police said gearing up to indict minister suspected of aiding alleged pedophiles

Law enforcement slated to recommend Yaakov Litzman be charged for pressuring employees to prevent extradition of Malka Leifer, who faces 74 child sex abuse charges in Australia

By Jacob Magid

A private investigator tagged Malka Leifer as she spoke on the phone, while sitting on a bench in Bnei Brak, on December 14, 2017. (Screen capture/YouTube)

May 21, 2019, 2:28 am

Final ruling on Malka Leifer’s mental fitness for extradition to be in September

Jerusalem court decision to come five years after former Australia principal was nabbed in Israel due to Canberra’s request she be sent back to face 74 charges of sex abuse

By Jacob Magid

Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman of United Torah Judaism holds a press conference after meeting with President Reuven Rivlin, April 15, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 15, 2019, 12:29 am

Deputy minister accused of protecting sex offenders in at least 10 cases

UTJ leader Yaakov Litzman alleged to have pattern of aiding ultra-Orthodox convicts by pressuring corrections officials, Channel 13 report claims

By TOI staff

May 13, 2019, 11:48 pm

Fraud claim against Leifer calls suspect’s incompetency defense into question

Prosecution witness says former Australia principal accused of sexual abuse pretended to help her gather donations, but instead was pocketing checks

By Jacob Magid

Australian sisters Nicole Meyer (L) and Dassi Erlich (R) take part in a demonstration on March 13, 2019, outside the Jerusalem District Court after an extradition hearings for Malka Leifer, a former girls school principal wanted for sexual abuse in Australia. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 13, 2019, 9:19 pm

Dozens rally in support of Malka Leifer’s alleged victims outside court hearing

Jerusalem court holds 48th session on whether suspected sexual predator fit to face extradition; defense witness has said she can’t be guilty because accusers don’t look religious

By Johanna Chisholm and Jacob Magid

Baby-doll protest outside the Health Ministry's offices in Jerusalem over Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman's alleged aid to suspected child sex abusers, March 4, 2019. The sign reads, "Litzman, protect the children, not the abusers!" (Channel 13 screen capture)

March 4, 2019, 11:39 am

Baby doll protest slams Litzman’s help to sex abusers

Deputy health minister suspected of illegally interfering in two cases involving alleged sex offenders linked to his Gur Hasidic sect

By TOI staff and Jacob Magid

In this February 27, 2018, file photo, Malka Leifer, center, is brought to a courtroom in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean, File)

February 26, 2019, 1:25 am

Malka Leifer accused of sexual harassment in Israel before moving to Australia

Former education official says that rather than report her, community leaders moved woman to Melbourne, where she is wanted on 74 counts of misconduct against former students

By Jacob Magid

Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman speaks during a press conference at the Health Ministry in Jerusalem on January 3, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

February 20, 2019, 6:06 pm

Breaking silence on Leifer allegations, Litzman says ‘everything was legal’

Deputy health minister insists his conduct in case of accused sex offender was ‘exactly as I act with every request from the public’

By TOI staff and Jacob Magid

February 18, 2019, 8:11 pm

Ashdod rabbi appeals to residents for aid with Leifer legal defense

Synagogues throughout city distribute letter from Yosef Direnfeld requesting help to prevent extradition of ‘prominent woman’

By Jacob Magid

A bail hearing for Malka Leifer at the Jerusalem District Court chambers of Judge Ram Vinograd on February 18, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

February 18, 2019, 4:04 pm

Malka Leifer denied bail during remainder of extradition process

Both sides reject judge’s offer for new psych evaluation to gauge whether sex abuse suspect is too sick to stay behind bars

By Jacob Magid

Former Australian principal Malka Leifer, wanted in her home country for child sex abuse crimes, seen at the Jerusalem District Court, February 14, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

February 17, 2019, 6:52 pm

Australian Jewish group protests over handling of Malka Leifer case

Zionist Federation of Australia expresses frustration over allegations that Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman attempted to block extradition of alleged sexual predator

By Jacob Magid

Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman attends a Finance Committee meeting at the Knesset, on August 8, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

February 16, 2019, 11:09 pm

Police suspect Litzman met with top psychiatrist to sway him on Leifer case

Deputy health minister’s alleged meeting with Jacob Charnes, a key witness in the sex offense extradition proceedings, could constitute obstruction of justice

By TOI staff and Jacob Magid

Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman is seen leaving a meeting in Jerusalem on February 14, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

February 16, 2019, 12:54 am

Litzman threatened state psychiatrists into helping alleged pedophile — report

Deputy health minister said to have told Health Ministry professionals they could be fired if they didn’t fake diagnosis to help Malka Leifer avoid extradition to Australia

By TOI staff and Jacob Magid

February 15, 2019, 6:00 pm

Alleged sex abuser’s former PR guru now working for Benny Gantz

Israel Resilience party spokeswoman points out Ronen Tzur no longer works on Malka Leifer’s behalf; woman’s accusers ‘shocked’ to learn of prominent new position

By Jacob Magid