A lawyer representing a teacher who has pleaded guilty to
sexually abusing students more than 20 years ago has told a court that
Melbourne's Yeshivah College covered up the scandal rather than contact police.
And even after David Kramer admitted to abusing one victim,
the school's then principal told the victim's father that the teacher would not
be suspended because of concerns for his wellbeing, the County Court was told.
Kramer, a primary school teacher at Yeshivah College between
1989 and 1992 and known to his pupils as "Rabbi Kramer" although not
ordained, has pleaded guilty to five charges of sexually abusing four
10-year-old boys in 1990 and 1991, and one charge of committing an indecent act
with a child.
Kramer, 52, was extradited last year from the US, where he
served 4 years in jail for sodomising a 12-year-old boy in a St Louis
synagogue.
Although a citizen of both the US and Israel, he is believed
to be the first Jewish community leader in Australia to plead guilty to charges
of sexually abusing children. He will be sentenced next Wednesday.
During his plea hearing, the court heard that in 1992, once
Kramer's offending became known, the management of Yeshivah College offered to
pay for the teacher's passage to Israel if he left immediately.
He did and
police were never contacted.
The court also heard that Kramer was reported to NSW police
in 1996, but no investigation occurred.
Barrister Tim Marsh, representing Kramer, described as
"the elephant in the room" the question as to why the St Kilda East
school, part of the wider Yeshivah Centre, never addressed the abuse.
"There could have been an investigation, there should
have been an investigation, but instead there was a cover-up," Mr Marsh
said.
Prosecutor Brett Sonnet earlier told the court that the
school's then-principal, Rabbi Abraham Glick, told the father of one of the
victims that Kramer would not be suspended.
Kramer was only removed and then dismissed when outraged
parents campaigned outside the teacher's home, Mr Sonnet said.
Outside court, victims advocate Manny Waks described as
"absolutely astounding" the revelation Rabbi Glick appeared to care
more "for the wellbeing of the perpetrator" than the victims.
Yeshivah College last year apologised
"unreservedly" to students who were molested.
But Mr Waks said the position of Rabbi Glick – who still
works at the school, as the head of Jewish studies and in student welfare – was
untenable, and that the Yeshivah Centre should be held to account.
"There is undeniable evidence that Yeshivah was directly
responsible for allowing this perpetrator to go overseas, ultimately going on
to reoffend," he said.
"Having spoken with a representative of the family of
the victim in the US, they highlight the fact that, from their perspective,
Yeshivah has got blood on its hands.
"What Kramer did to the their child is essentially the
responsibility of Yeshivah, because had they taken action all those years ago,
in all likelihood this would not have occurred."
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