AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun
Ex Melbourne principal facing sex abuse claims, Malka Leifer, suffering psychosis, lawyer says
ANDREW FRIEDMAN, SHANNON DEERY HERALD SUN JULY 15, 2015
A PRINCIPAL accused of molesting students at an ultra-orthodox Jewish school has claimed through her lawyer she is psychotic in her latest attempt to fight her extradition to Melbourne.
Authorities are working to force Malka Leifer’s return from Israel amid accusations she sexually assaulted a string of teen girls while principal at Adass Israel School in Elsternwick.
She is currently under house arrest while extradition proceedings continue at the request of Victoria Police who have indicated she could face criminal charges.
Almost a year after being arrested in Israel, lawyers for Mrs Leifer, who has vowed to never return to Melbourne, now claim she is psychotic and unfit to face court.
Mrs Leifer was expected to appear at the Jerusalem District Court overnight but failed to attend because of ill health.
Lawyer Yehuda Fried said the extradition was “only at the beginning” and said his client pledged to drag the case out.
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