Day six: Ex-school counsellor reluctant to make Leifer statement – VIDEO

Chana Rabinowitz told court that when police first asked her to give a statement, she was reluctant to do so due to legal concerns. VIDEO: Julie Szego and Manny Waks report

Discussion by Julie Szego and Manny Waks

A FORMER SCHOOL counsellor at Addas Israel School had been in frequent contact with one of Malka Leifer’s alleged victims when the woman moved to Israel in 2007 but had not been in contact with her since 2008, a Melbourne court heard on Monday.

Chana Rabinowitz, giving evidence via videolink from Israel, told the court that it was more than six to 10 occasions, as suggested by Leifer’s defence counsel, Ian Hill, QC.

Three years later, in 2011, Rabinowitz was approached by police to make a statement against Leifer, the school’s former principal, but told police she was reluctant to do so because she had been advised of potential legal consequences, the court heard.

Leifer is facing 74 charges of child sexual abuse involving three sisters at the school from 2004-08.

Rabinowitz said she was warned that she could be sued because two of Leifer’s alleged victims had been trying to get a grant for victims of crime, and might come after her for money.

Ms Rabinowitz did make a police statement in April 2021, acknowledging that it related to events from 13-15 years earlier. She told the court she did not have notes from the time because they were in a computer she no longer owned.

But she told the court she still had some old emails from the time from one of the alleged victims, that were "graphic and emotional", and "full of her personal anguish".

Leifer, who attended via video link from prison, sat with her head facing downwards during the hearing. She was dressed in the same blue top and white head covering she has worn in previous hearings.

The three sisters have previously given evidence in closed court.

Leifer's committal hearing will resume on Thursday, when five witnesses are scheduled to give evidence.