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Malka Leifer to stay in Israeli prison after court overturns bail decision

Former Melbourne principal Malka Leifer will stay behind bars in Israel after the Israeli Supreme Court overturned a decision to release her into house arrest.

Malka Leifer, a former Australian teacher accused of dozens of cases of sexual abuse of girls, arrives  at the District Court in Jerusalem in February 2019.

Malka Leifer, right, arrives at the District Court in Jerusalem in February 2019. Source: AFP

Israel's Supreme Court has overturned a lower court order releasing a former Melbourne school principal accused of sexual abuse from prison to house arrest.

Malka Leifer poses a flight risk and should remain behind bars until extradition proceedings conclude, Justice Anat Baron ruled on Thursday.

The judge found in favour of prosecutors' appeal against the Jerusalem District Court's 2 October order.

Leifer faces extradition to Australia on 74 charges of sexually assaulting female students during her time at Melbourne's ultra-orthodox Adass Israel school.

Malka Leifer is wanted in Australia on child sex abuse charges.
Malka Leifer is wanted in Australia on child sex abuse charges. Source: SBS

The 52-year-old fled to Israel in 2008 after the allegations first emerged and the process to extradite her has stalled several times since charges were laid in 2013.

Victim supporter Manny Waks welcomed Justice Baron's decision.

"I have always maintained that Leifer belongs in prison until she faces the extradition hearing and is ultimately extradited back to Australia to face justice," he said in a statement on Friday.

Malka Leifer is brought into an Israeli court.
Malka Leifer is brought into an Israeli court. Source: AAP

Earlier this month Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reiterate his view that Leifer must be extradited.

And federal Attorney-General Christian Porter has said he will travel to Israel in the coming months to raise the matter "personally and directly" with his counterpart.


2 min read

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By SBS News

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