A former Melbourne principal who was extradited from Israel to face child sex charges has made a request during her first court appearance.
More than a decade after leaving the country, former school principal Malka Leifer faced a Melbourne court on child sex abuse allegations and asked for “special arrangements” in prison.
The 54-year-old former principal of ultra-Orthodox Jewish Adass Israel School appeared on Thursday morning via video link wearing a black and white printed outfit, blue face mask and white head covering.
“Prison authorities are or should be aware that Ms Leifer has very strict religious beliefs and that special arrangements will need to be made for her to comply,” her lawyer Tony Hargreaves told the court.
Ms Leifer is facing 74 charges of sexually abusing three sisters during the period she was principal between 2004 and 2008.
Charge sheets released on Thursday include multiple counts of rape, indecent assault, “wilfully commit an indecent act” with a child under her care, supervision or authority, and sexual penetration of a child under her care.
The documents show the alleged acts took place across the Melbourne suburbs of Elsternwick, Elwood and Frankston as well as the regional towns of Rawson, Emerald and Blampied.
During the brief administrative hearing the accused woman largely kept her face hidden and held her head in her hands.
Read the article by Caroline Schelle in The Daily Telegraph.