Litzman plea deal over meddling in Leifer extradition
UNITED Torah Judaism MK Yaakov Litzman signed a plea deal yesterday (Thursday) admitting to breach of trust for using his former position as deputy health minister to thwart the extradition to Australia of Malka Leifer.
The charge of obstruction of justice was dropped as part of the agreement, and Litzman will not be convicted of moral turpitude in the case. The deal still needs to be approved by a judge.
Under the terms of the deal, Litzman will avoid jail time and instead be sentenced to probation, as well as a fine of NIS 3,000 (approximately $940).
Until recently, Litzman denied that he was taking part in plea deal negotiations. He announced last month that he would not run for the Knesset again, although he said that his decision was unrelated to the accusations against him.
The plea deal was finalised just four days before the end of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit’s term.
In a statement issued by his lawyers, Litzman said he “takes responsibility for one, irregular event.” The statement claimed that the then-minister “acted in response to a public request he received, without acquaintance with the applicant, and without any personal affiliation or motives”.
Charges were dropped relating to a second case in which Litzman was accused of preventing the closure of a deli cited for health violations. The deli was close to Litzman’s home and he was acquainted with its owners.
Police had originally recommended Litzman also be charged with bribery in the original indictment, but Mandelblit decided against it.
In the Leifer case, Litzman was accused of pressuring employees in the Health Ministry to alter the conclusions of psychiatric evaluations that had deemed the former principal of Melbourne’s Adass Israel school fit for extradition.
Leifer was eventually extradited to Australia last year, nearly 13 years after she left Melbourne as allegations against her were coming to light and after a six-year legal process.
The prolonged nature of Leifer’s extradition shook Australia’s Jewish community which became increasingly frustrated by the repeated nature of delays in the case.
Leifer has pleaded not guilty to at least 70 charges relating to child sexual abuse allegedly occurring at Adass Israel between 2004 and 2008.
Elected to the Knesset in 1999, Litzman was the de facto head of the Health Ministry for more than a decade, serving as either deputy or full health minister from 2009 until mid-2020.
Last year, Litzman stepped down as chair of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party after 18 years at the helm, with Moshe Gafni taking the
Litzman announced on Sunday that he had contracted the coronavirus for a second time.
Times of Israel
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