Sex-charge principal on way back to Australia

Accused sex predator Malka Leifer has been put on the plane from Israel to Melbourne, capping a near decade-long campaign by the sisters she is alleged to have abused to have her face court in Australia.

The 54-year-old former Jewish school principal was handed over to Victoria police officers in Tel Aviv on Monday after the extradition order her lawyers in Israel fought tooth and nail to avoid was finally executed.

She was escorted on to a commercial flight only hours before a COVID lockdown on air travel in and out of the Jewish state was to come into force.

A spokesman for Attorney-General Christian Porter said the Australian government was aware of reports in Israel that Ms Leifer had been extradited, but it did not comment on the logistics of such retrievals.

It is not yet clear where Ms Leifer will complete her 14 days of quarantine on arrival in Melbourne.

Covid-19 Quarantine Victoria said the issue was a matter for Victoria Police, given she will be in police custody.

A spokeswoman for Victoria Police said that with the extradition process underway and the matter before the courts, it would be “inappropriate” to comment.

“All enquiries regarding extradition should be directed to the Attorney-General’s office.”

Read the article by Jamie Walker and Rachel Baxendale in The Australian.