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A former Melbourne principal accused of child sexual abuse has boarded a flight to be extradited from Israel to Australia.
Attorney-General Christian Porter confirmed Israeli media reports about Malka Leifer’s extradition.
“Victorian authorities are responsible for the physical return of Ms Leifer to Australia now that the legal extradition process in Israel has concluded and she has been found suitable for surrender to Australian authorities to face the charges against her,” a spokesman for Mr Porter said in a statement.
Victoria Police declined to comment, saying it would be inappropriate while the extradition process is ongoing.
Ms Leifer is accused of abusing three sisters while she was headmistress of Adass Israel School in Melbourne’s Elsternwick neighbourhood over several years in the early 2000s.
She left Australia after the allegations against her surfaced. Since then, she has been waging a legal fight to avoid extradition.
But on Monday evening Australian time, Israeli media published pictures of Ms Leifer boarding a flight, holding the rail of a metal staircase and accompanied by three female officials in masks and face shields.
Her lawyer in Israel, Nick Kaufman, told local newspaper Times of Israel it was unfortunate “photographs of (Leifer) being led in handcuffs and legcuffs were leaked to the press”.
He added Israeli authorities had been “expected to ensure the secrecy of the date of transfer and to ensure maximum respect for Ms. Leifer’s dignity until she left Israeli jurisdiction”.
The spokesman for Mr Porter said the Australian government was aware of the Israeli news reports.
“The Australian Government does not comment on logistics involving extradition arrangements against individuals until the extradition process has concluded,” the person said.
“Both the Attorney-General and Minister for Foreign Affairs have expressed their thanks to the Israel Government for its assistance and co-operation to bring this long-running process to a conclusion to allow for the extradition of Ms Leifer to Australia where she faces serious sexual assault allegations.
“The Ministers will issue a further statement at the conclusion of the extradition process.”
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