Malka Leifer

Court set to rule on Malka Leifer’s mental fitness for extradition to Australia

Defense and prosecution concerned judge could further delay proceedings with call for fresh psychological evaluations for former principal accused of 74 counts of child sex abuse

September 23, 2019, 12:44 am

Court set to rule on Malka Leifer’s mental fitness for extradition to Australia

Defense and prosecution concerned judge could further delay proceedings with call for fresh psychological evaluations for former principal accused of 74 counts of child sex abuse

By Jacob Magid

Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman at the ceremony for the opening of a new branch of his Agudath Israel party, ahead of the upcoming elections, in the northern city of Safed, July 4, 2019. (David Cohen/Flash90)

September 1, 2019, 12:39 am

AG reportedly to let deputy health minister keep post despite looming charges

Yaakov Litzman agrees to relinquish responsibility over offices he’s been accused of pressuring in order to assist convicted pedophiles

By Jacob Magid

A general view of the Emmanuel settlement in the West Bank. 12, April, 2010. (Kobi Gideon/Flash90)

August 8, 2019, 1:54 pm

West Bank settlement resident facing over 100 counts of child sex abuse

Uriah Assis from ultra-Orthodox Emmanuel, 26, accused of string of charges including rape, sexual assault and possession of child pornography

By TOI staff

Protesters demonstrate on March 13, 2019, outside the Jeursalem District Court during extradition hearings for Malka Leifer, a former girls school principal wanted for sexual abuse in Australia. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

August 7, 2019, 4:43 pm

Top pro-Israel group in Australia lauds police recommendation to indict Litzman

Zionist Federation of Australia calls on Israeli deputy health minister to step down over suspected efforts to prevent extradition to Melbourne of alleged sex abuser Malka Leifer

By Jacob Magid

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (c) speaks with then-health minister Yaakov Litzman (l) at the Knesset on March 28, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

August 6, 2019, 5:37 pm

Ultra-Orthodox back Litzman, Likud silent, after allegations he helped pedophile

Deputy health minister and UTJ party head receives broad backing from Haredi parties, while the opposition manages to muster only mild criticism for the key political player

By Raoul Wootliff and Jacob Magid

August 6, 2019, 12:20 pm

Police recommend Litzman stand trial for bribery, aiding alleged pedophile

Deputy health minister and UTJ party head could be charged over pressuring employees to prevent extradition of Malka Leifer to face 74 counts of child sex abuse in Australia

By Raoul Wootliff and Jacob Magid

July 25, 2019, 9:36 pm

Medical board set to rule that Malka Leifer is feigning mental illness

Lawyer for Australia principal charged with sex abuse seeking to prevent panel from handing down conclusion, which would have major impact on court’s extradition ruling

By Jacob Magid

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

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, right, 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

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