An Australian court on Thursday sentenced the former principal of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish School to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing two students.
Malka Leifer was found guilty of 18 sexual offenses including rape, indecent assault, and penetration of a child aged 16 or 17 in April. A jury cleared her of 9 other charges.
Previously, Malka Leifer who was serving as the principal of the Adass Israel School, pleaded not guilty to all charges. Her extradition to Australia from Israel took place in 2021, following her flight in 2008 when allegations against her surfaced.
Victoria County Court judge Mark Gamble set a non-parole period of 11 years and 6 months but stated that he would take the 2,069 days she already served into account.
The incident revolved around 3 sisters who accused Leifer of subjecting them to sexual abuse during the years 2003-2007. The instances of abuse occurred within the school premises in Melbourne, locked staff offices, during school camps, and at Leifer’s residence when they were in their teenagers.
The court found Leifer guilty of offenses against two of them.
One of the complainants told reporters outside the court after the verdict, “Our expectations were so low because female perpetrators are so under reported and we have nothing to base it on and we just felt very grateful that we actually felt validated in that exact moment.”
