Justice minister signs extradition order in Australia sex-crime case

Nissenkorn says that after a years-long legal saga, it's Israel's 'moral responsibility' to extradite Malka Leifer, accused sexually abusing several former students at a Jewish school in Melbourne
Associated Press|
The justice minister on Wednesday said he has signed an extradition order to send a former teacher to Australia to face charges of child sex abuse.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn said that after a years-long legal saga, it was Israel's "moral responsibility" to extradite Malka Leifer. Nissenkorn signed the order a day after the Supreme Court rejected what appears to be Leifer's final appeal.
    2 View gallery
    מלכה לייפר
    מלכה לייפר
    Malka Leifer in court
    (Photo: Amit Shabi)
    Leifer, a former educator accused of sexually abusing several former students at a Jewish school in Melbourne, has been fighting extradition from Israel since 2014.
    Leifer maintains her innocence and the six-year legal battle surrounding her extradition has strained relations between Israel and Australia.
    Nissenkorn did not announce an extradition date.
    2 View gallery
    אבי ניסנקורן
    אבי ניסנקורן
    Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn
    (Photo: Knesset PR)
    Manny Waks, an activist who has represented the victims, said he expects the extradition to take place within 60 days. "An amazing day for justice!" he tweeted.
    Laifer's extradition came the Justice Ministry said it would expedite the move after an Israeli psychiatric panel determined Leifer had lied about suffering from a mental condition that made her unfit to stand trial.
    When Leifer returns to Australia she will stand trial for 74 charges of child sex abuse lawyers said.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""