State psych eval deems sex abuse suspect Malka Leifer fit for extradition hearing

A state psychiatric examination submitted in front of a Jerusalem District Court judge deems Malka Leifer fit to continue facing an extradition hearing.

The former principal of an ultra-Orthodox girls’ school in Melbourne is wanted on 74 charges of child sexual abuse in Australia. She was arrested in Israel in February following a police undercover operation that cast doubt on her claim that she is mentally unfit to appear in court.

Leifer’s attorney Yehuda Fried disputes the conclusions submitted by Jerusalem District Psychiatrist Dr. Moshe Weisbroth and demands that the defense be allowed to have its own medical professionals evaluate the suspect.

Judge Chana Lomp accepts the request and ordered Fried to submit his own psychiatric assessment of Leifer by October 14. The next hearing will be held a month later on November 14 where each side will be given the opportunity to question the conclusions of the other.