By Shannon Deery
Herald Sun
September 7, 2011
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/jewish-group-protected-sex-offender/story-fn7x8me2-1226131032390
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| David Cyprys is driven into the Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday. Picture: Aaron Francis The Australian |
A POLICE investigation into child sex offences at a prominent Jewish school was hindered by sections of the Jewish community amid attempts to protect a man charged with dozens of crimes against students, a Victoria Police detective has claimed.
The allegation came during a bail application for locksmith and security guard David Cyprys who was arrested yesterday morning.
Cyprys, 43, was charged with 16 counts of indecent assault and 13 counts of gross indecency from his time at Yeshiva College, East St Kilda, during the 1980s and 1990s.
The alleged crimes involve 12 students associated with the school, where the court heard Cyprys was employed as a security guard and also taught karate.
The victims were aged between seven and 17 at the time of the offending.
Informant Senior Detective Lisa Metcher told the court sections of the Jewish community had protected Cyprys and hindered the police investigation.
"They (Jewish community) have failed to act in any way to protect the children and the matters have been swept under the carpet," Sen Det Metcher said "Lies have been told to police...information has been twisted or covered up," she said.
Sen Det Metcher told the court she believed Cyprys was a significant flight risk.
She said police had received between five and 10 phone calls a day from people claiming they were also abused by Cyprys.
"The accused is still connected with people that would probably make it easy for him to leave the country," she said.
The court heard five of Cyprys' victims lived in Victoria, while another five lived in NSW.
Two others now live overseas.
Some of the offences are believed to have occurred in NSW while Cyprys was traveling with Yeshiva College for a training camp with a sister school.
The court also heard police had concerns for the welfare of Cyprys' two children, one who lives with him, and the three children of his partner.
Cyprys did not enter a plea and was granted bail on a series of conditions including posting $50,000 surety.
He was also ordered to surrender his passport, report to police daily, stay at least 100m from any school.
He also been banned from any unsupervised contact with children under 16, including his own.
The case was adjourned until December 2.
Contact: deerys@heraldsun.com.au
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