Malka Leifer, the former principal of Adass Israel School, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish girls' school in Melbourne, Australia, has been found guilty of sexually abusing two sisters who were students at the school. Her sentencing is scheduled for August 24th. This verdict marks a significant moment in a protracted legal battle that has strained relations between Australia and Israel.

Leifer's abuse of Dassi Erlick and Elly Sapper occurred between 2003 and 2007. Erlick was 14 and Sapper 12 when Leifer initially joined the school in 2000. The sisters bravely testified about the devastating impact of the abuse, revealing how it shattered their trust and continues to cause them pain. Although the Associated Press typically refrains from identifying sexual abuse survivors, Erlick and Sapper have publicly chosen to share their stories.

Leifer fled to Israel in 2008 when the allegations first emerged. From 2014 to 2021, she fought extradition to Australia, engaging in a lengthy legal battle in Israeli courts. She was ultimately extradited in January 2021, arriving in Australia in restraints. Leifer, a mother of eight, has consistently denied all charges.

The charges against Leifer carry significant prison sentences. The six rape charges each hold a maximum penalty of 25 years, while the three counts of sexual penetration of a child and the six counts of indecent assault each carry a potential 10-year sentence. She was also convicted on three charges of committing an indecent act with a child, each punishable by 5 years in prison. Judge Mark Gamble will determine the final sentence, considering factors like the 52 days Leifer spent in Israeli custody and 608 days under house arrest before her return to Australia. Prosecutors have argued that her time in Israeli detention should be given less weight due to her alleged attempts to delay extradition by feigning mental illness. While Israeli courts and psychiatrists concluded Leifer was fit to stand trial, Judge Gamble acknowledged their findings regarding her mental health struggles, including an adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression since her arrest.