A leading ultra-Orthodox Israeli politician has admitted helping a suspected child sex abuser try to avoid trial in Australia as part of a plea bargain that would keep him out of prison.
Yaakov Litzman, a former health minister and head of the United Torah Judaism faction, was charged with fraud and breach of trust on Thursday for using his political power to sway the expert opinion of a psychiatrist examining the mental fitness of Malka Leifer.
Leifer, a dual Israeli-Australian citizen, was extradited to Australia last year after a lengthy legal battle in Israel, where she claimed to be mentally unfit to stand trial.
She is facing 70 charges of child sex abuse at a Jewish school in Melbourne where she worked from 2004-08, including rape, indecent assault and child sexual abuse.
“According to the plea bargain, Litzman will admit the charges and be convicted, with the sides jointly requesting a suspended jail term and fine,” a justice ministry statement said.
The deal was set to be brought to the Jerusalem Magistrates Court, where a judge needed to approve it.
Litzman, 73, who has been a politician and minister for more than 20 years, recently announced he would not be seeking re-election to parliament beyond this term.
Read the article in The Australian (AFP).