Israel extradites teacher to Australia over sex crimes

By AbdelRaouf Arnaout
JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel on Monday extradited a Jewish teacher to Australia over sexually assaulting students in a school in Melbourne, The Jerusalem Post newspaper reported.

Malka Leifer was extradited to Australia after deliberations in the courts that lasted for six years. She faces 74 charges of sexual assault and rape of minors.

According to the daily, the teacher has claimed mental illness since extradition proceedings were initiated in 2014, but the Jerusalem District Court ruled last year that she was fit for trial and ordered her extradition.

All appeals by Leifer were rejected by Israel’s Supreme Court.

Leifer fled to Israel in 2008 after too many accusations flowed against her.

The teacher’s extradition comes hours before Israel is due to ban passenger flights in and out of the country for a week in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The flight restrictions begin on Monday evening.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara