First charges in Sydney child abuse probe
A FORMER member of Sydney’s Jewish community has been charged with offences relating to child sexual abuse within the community.
A FORMER member of Sydney’s Jewish community has been charged with offences relating to child sexual abuse within the community.
Daniel “Gug” Hayman was arrested on Monday and charged with two counts of gross indecency by a male with a male under 18 years.
It is alleged that Hayman, who was a volunteer and director of Yeshiva in Sydney, assaulted two boys, aged 14 and 16 between 1985 and 1986.
Hayman, who is now 49 years old and lives in Los Angeles, was released on strict bail conditions on Tuesday. He has been permitted to attend synagogue services because he was visiting Australia following the recent death of his mother.
“He can continue to pray and follow cultural and religious practices as long as he doesn’t knowingly change his practices to go somewhere to see a witness,” NSW police eastern suburbs local area command crime manager Ana Loughman said.
Hayman is the first person to be charged in relation to the police’s investigation into historic child sexual abuse allegations in the Sydney community.
One of Hayman’s alleged victims spoke to Rabbi Moshe Gutnick at the time of the incident.
Rabbi Gutnick told The AJN in March that he passed on the information to Yeshiva’s leadership .
The same alleged victim then contacted Rabbi Gutnick again earlier this year and arranged to meet.
“He came to my house and reminded me then of that phone call, which I had long forgotten, and informed me that he was indeed the caller,” Rabbi Gutnick said.
“Needless to say I was in shock. I felt deeply saddened.”
Yeshiva Centre’s spiritual leader Rabbi Pinchus Feldman has denied any knowledge of Rabbi Gutnick’s phone call to the Centre and said in a statement this week that he endorses the unequivocal rabbinical ruling encouraging any victims of abuse to report the incident to police.
“I will continue to support the efforts of law enforcement agencies in investigating and taking action to protect our community,” Rabbi Feldman said.
Rabbi Feldman said that Hayman attended the Yeshiva Synagogue to pray or for classes, but was never an employee or teacher at the Yeshiva Centre and did not have responsibility for children. He also stressed that the only previous allegation of child sexual abuse at Yeshiva, which occurred in 2003, was reported to police and the Department of Community Services at the time of the incident.
Hayman was at Yeshiva Synagogue on Tuesday night but concern has been raised over his attendance.
“I don’t think it is appropriate for him to attend services here because potentially the people involved are in the vicinity and we are on school grounds,” Yeshiva Synagogue president Gaby Amzalak said. “I don’t have a legal position, but I assume those involved are in our community.”
Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
JOSHUA LEVI
Daniel “Gug” Hayman was arrested on Monday and charged with two counts of gross indecency by a male with a male under 18 years.
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