Accused abuser enters guilty plea
A FORMER mentor at one of Australia’s most prominent Jewish communal organisations, who was due to face charges relating to child sex offences, pled guilty in the Victorian County Court last Friday.
A FORMER mentor at one of Australia’s most prominent Jewish communal organisations, who was due to face charges relating to child sex offences, pled guilty in the Victorian County Court last Friday.
The man, believed to be in his early 20s when the alleged offences were committed more than a decade ago, was to stand trial on 27 charges, including indecent acts with a child under 16, sex with a minor and an indecent act in the presence of a child under 16.
Neither the alleged perpetrator nor the organisation he was employed by at the time the offences are understood to have been committed can be named due to a suppression order.
The AJN first reported the story in November 2012 and the alleged abuser was set to front court last month, before a deal was struck with prosecutors.
The man will face court on August 2 for a plea hearing.
The AJN understands some of the complainants, believed to be Jewish girls, were in the man’s care at the time of the alleged abuses, but it is understood the accused himself is not Jewish.
Some of the alleged incidents are believed to have taken place on an overseas trip.
The man is the second alleged abuser to plead guilty to offences committed in Melbourne’s Jewish community, with former Yeshivah College (Melbourne) teacher David Kramer admitting to five counts of indecent assault and an indecent act with or in the presence of a minor in April.
Manny Waks, CEO of Tzedek – an advocacy group for Jewish victims of child sexual abuse – hailed the development as an “important milestone”.
“Today’s guilty plea will hopefully embolden other victims and survivors to pursue justice,” Waks said in a statement.
“It takes a great deal of courage and determination to pursue justice in these circumstances so hopefully today’s result will demonstrate that pursuing justice through the courts is a worthwhile option.”
ADAM KAMIEN
Manny Waks, CEO of Tzedek – an advocacy group for Jewish victims of child sexual abuse.
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