Kramer appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court this morning for a brief filing hearing. He
did not speak during the short hearing but appeared shocked after
Yeshivah child sexual abuse victim Manny Waks stood up and called out:
"Welcome back to Australia Rabbi Kramer.”
David Kramer mug shot 2012
The Herald Sun reports:
David Kramer, 52, was extradited from the US at the weekend after being charged with 10 counts of indecent assault.
The former [Chabad] Yeshiva College teacher is also facing two charges of indecent acts with children under the age of 16.
The offences are alleged to have happened while he was a teacher at the college between 1989 and 1992.
Court documents reveal there are four alleged victims in relation to the charges.
Kramer appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court this morning for a brief filing hearing.
He did not speak during the short hearing but appeared shocked after Yeshivah child sexual abuse victim Manny Waks stood up and called out: "Welcome back to Australia Rabbi Kramer”.
Kramer left Australia in 1993 after several students alleged they had been molested by him.
He was arrested in the US in April in response to Australia's request for his extradition.
He was surrendered by US authorities on Thursday.
Senior Yeshivah College figures have previously confirmed they did not report allegations of abuse levelled at Kramer to police.
Instead they said they paid for him to relocate to Israel after angry parents demanded he leave the college.
Mr Waks, who was not abused by Kramer, said it was good to have the former teacher back in Australia to face the serious allegations.
"It will be hard for victims to relive their experience of abuse but they're determined to pursue the matter until justice is served,” he said.
Mr Waks, who has started Victoria's first Jewish support group for victims of sexual abuse, called on other victims to come forward.
Kramer was remanded in custody and ordered to reappear in court for a committal mention in January.
Manny Waks had this to say about Kramer's return to Australia to face justice:
"Today is a monumental day for the Australian Jewish community. On behalf of some of the victims, I would like to thank the Victoria Police for their excellent work in extraditing David Kramer to Australia to face justice. It is my understanding that this is the first such extradition in Victoria.
While it is and no doubt will continue to be traumatic for David Kramer's alleged victims in reliving their abuse, they're now more determined than ever to pursue this matter until justice is obtained.
The victims have emphasised their intention to also hold to account those involved in the ongoing cover-up.
I would like to take this opportunity to encourage other victims within the Jewish community, whether in this case or in any other case, to come forward to police and pursue justice. It will also ensure that our community will be a safer place for our children."
Kramer raped a child in a St. Louis synagogue. He was reported to police by the shul's rabbi, Zev Smasons. Kramer was convicted and sentenced to 7 years in prison. He essentially went from serving that prison sentence to being held for extradition to Australia to imprisonment in Melbourne.
[Hat Tip: David.]