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Sisters sexually molested by their ultra-Orthodox Jewish principal Malka Leifer felt a wave of relief and validation as they learned their abuser would spend years more behind bars.
Leifer was jailed for 15 years on Thursday by Victorian County Court Judge Mark Gamble, after a jury convicted her of 18 charges including rape and sexual assault.
She was principal and head of religious studies at the Adass Israel School in Melbourne’s inner east when she abused Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper between 2004 and 2007.
Leifer was ordered to serve at least 11-and-a-half years of the sentence for the offending described by the judge as insidious, callous and calculated.
But he took into account 1129 days spent in prison in Israel, while fighting her extradition, and 940 days in Australia, leaving at least six years to be served before she’s eligible for parole.
Outside court, Sapper described it as a momentous day.
“Today’s ruling of 15 years recognises the harm and pain that Malka Leifer caused each one of us to suffer over so many years,” she said.
“Trauma from sexual abuse is a lifelong sentence and while no amount of years will ever be sufficient we are relieved that Malka Leifer is now in prison for 15 years and cannot prey on anyone else.”
The sisters campaigned for years to bring Leifer to justice and Erlich said it was because they had not given up that they had the result today.
“While we know the onus of fighting for justice should not be up to survivors, this fight was never just for us,” she said.
“We are showing that the voices of survivors will not and cannot be silenced no matter the obstacles.”
The experience was traumatic and destabilising and she didn’t think she would have got through it had she not had her sisters by her side.
Leifer was acquitted by the jury of nine charges, including five against the siblings’ older sister Nicole Meyer, who was in court every step of the way.
She said their expectation when it came to Leifer’s sentence was so low, the result gave them immediate relief.
“Female perpetrators are so under-reported and we had nothing to base it on,” she said.
“We just felt so grateful that we felt validated in that exact moment.”
Judge Gamble observed in the sentence that the sisters were resilient and surprisingly optimistic, despite Sapper feeling guilt for what happened to her.
“They were completely innocent victims of the predatory behaviour of Mrs Leifer, and it is she and she alone who should feel guilty,” Judge Gamble said.
Erlich said with this chapter closed, they would continue to ensure survivors had a voice.
“You are never alone, we are all behind you and we will continue to ensure that our collective voices will not be unbreakable,” she said.
Adass Israel School principal and chief executive Aaron Strasser again apologised for the distress suffered by the sisters and the impact it had on their lives and families.
“(Leifer’s) offending was a gross and complete breach of trust and it is our hope that today’s sentencing provides a sense of justice for the survivors and helps them to heal,” Strasser said in a statement.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028.
