Holland Wants Accused Orthodox School Molester Extradicted From Israel
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
The Netherlands asked for the extradition from Israel of a Dutch teacher suspected of molesting pupils at an Orthodox school near Amsterdam.
The request was sent last week by the Public Prosecution Service of the District Court of Amsterdam, the court’s press officer, Franklin Wattimena, told JTA Thursday.
The 26-year-old man identified in Dutch media as Ephraim S., left the Netherlands for Israel in 2012 amid allegations that he molested several pupils at the Cheider school in Buitenveldert near the Dutch capital.
“We have been busy for a while with filing the request,” Wattimena told JTA. “The Israeli authorities place higher demands than what we are used to. We need, according to the Israeli legal system, to present more [proof] of plausibility with regards to the former teacher. The investigation continues.”
The prosecution service declined to specify what actions Ephraim S. is suspected of committing. One parent told JTA that Ephraim S. gave his son massages, and that Ephraim S. is also suspected of having relations of a sexual nature with a 16-year-old boy.
The suspect’s lawyer, Geert-Jan Knoops, has denied any wrongdoing on the part of his client. Knoops told the Volkskrant daily that he has filed a complaint against the prosecutors handling the case with the Justine Ministry’s supervisor. Knoops said that the prosecution has withheld evidence, keeping his client from defending himself against allegations in the media.
According to De Telegraaf daily, Israeli police have placed no restrictions on Ephraim S.’ movement and he has given private lessons to pupils in Israel.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
