Historical sexual offence allegations
Velvel Serebryanski has been extradited from the United States to Australia to face historical sexual offence charges.
Bayside Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Exploitation detectives have successfully orchestrated the extradition of 59-year-old Velvel Serebryanski from the United States to Australia to face historical sexual offence charges. The arrest took place earlier this year on April 19 in New York, following an extensive investigation.
The alleged offences date back to 1980s and are said to have occurred in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda East.
After extradition, he appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 20, where he was officially charged with three counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual penetration of a child over 12 and under 16.
Upon his return to Australia, the suspect was granted bail, albeit under strict conditions. The court has scheduled a subsequent hearing on September 15 of this year.
Voice Against Child Sexual Abuse (VoiCSA) board member Philip Weinberg told The AJN that, “[VoiCSA] welcomes the return of Mr Serebryanski to Australia. As he has now been charged, we are unable to provide further comment so as not to prejudice the outcome of proceedings.
“However, we take the opportunity to remind the community that the most prevalent safety threat we face when attending synagogues comes not from those we keep out but from who we allow in.”
He added that VoiCSA continues to assist victims/survivors who have been sexually abused as children while attending synagogues.
“It is critical that synagogues comply with the Child Safe Standards and have processes in place to manage the attendance of potential threats.”
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