AUSTRALIA
The Australian

February 22, 2016

Jamie Walker – Middle East Correspondent

Israel’s prosecution service has persuaded a judge to order fresh psychiatric evaluations of a former Melbourne Jewish school principal who is fighting extradition to Australia to answer child sex abuse charges.

Judge Amnon Cohen, of the Jerusalem District Court, will use the expert advice to decide whether the proceedings should continue against Malka Leifer, who faces 74 charges in Australia of indecently dealing with girls at the Adass Israel School.

In ruling she should be seen again by a state psychiatrist, Judge Cohen rejected a defence application that the extradition proceedings be suspended because Mrs Leifer suffers panic attacks ahead of each hearing, preventing her attendance.

State prosecutor Avital Ribner-Oron told Judge Cohen on Sunday local time that Mrs Leifer was dragging out proceedings to avoid being sent to Australia to face prosecution, and the accused pedophile…