Yeshivah Rabbi Fronts Court

By Pia Akerman
The Australian
December 4, 2012

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/yeshivah-rabbi-fronts-court/story-e6frg6nf-1226529253755

Yeshivah College in St Kilda East, Melbourne. Source: Supplied

A RABBI accused of sexually assaulting students at a Jewish school in Melbourne has appeared in court following his extradition from the US.

David Kramer, a 52-year old American citizen who was living in Missouri, was surrendered by US authorities last week and flown back to Melbourne, where he has not lived since the 1990s.

A Victorian warrant was issued for his arrest last year amid allegations he abused four boys while teaching at Yeshivah College in St Kilda East between 1990 and 1992.

He was arrested in the US in April and unsuccessfully fought the extradition order through the courts.

He is one of two former Yeshivah College employees facing separate child sexual abuse charges.

Former school security guard David Cyprys is due to stand trial in July on charges of child rape and other sexual abuse against 12 students in the 1980s.

Mr Kramer has been charged with 10 counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecent acts with a child under the age of 16.

Dressed in a baggy white T-shirt with a greying beard, Mr Kramer was not required to enter a plea and did not speak during a brief hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday.

He did not apply for bail.

As Mr Kramer stood to leave the dock, former Yeshivah student and victims advocate Manny Waks called from the public gallery: "Welcome back to Australia, Rabbi Kramer."

Mr Waks quickly apologised to the court for his comment.

Mr Kramer will face court again next month.