School Sorry over Teacher Sex Abuse

By Joel Cresswell
Sydney Morning Herald
July 24, 2013

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/school-sorry-over-teacher-sex-abuse-20130724-2qiki.html

A Melbourne Jewish school has apologised for covering up the sexual abuse of students by a teacher.

David Kramer, 53, has been jailed for three years and four months for fondling four schoolboys between 1990 and 1992 while a teacher at Yeshivah College.

The St Kilda school did not alert police and sent Kramer to Israel when confronted by angry parents in 1993.

Yeshivah principal Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler unreservedly apologised for the "historical wrongs" after Kramer's sentencing on Wednesday.

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"Yeshivah sincerely regrets and unreservedly apologises for not informing the police at the time the allegations arose," Rabbi Smukler said in a statement.

"If any allegations were to arise today, they would be immediately reported to the police and the relevant authorities.

"We recognise that the effects of abuse are profound and we hope this sentencing will facilitate a degree of comfort and closure for the victims and their families."

Kramer must serve a minimum of 18 months in prison but could be free in three months with time already served.

Victorian County Court Judge Michael Bourke said Kramer had committed an unforgivable breach of trust.

"Your offending represents a serious and unforgivable betrayal of the children's trust and their regard for you," he told Kramer.

"You exploited your authority and power over them."

Kramer pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault and one count of an indecent act with a child.

The father of 11 fondled the genitals of the four boys, asking one to stay behind after class and sitting him on his lap.

After Yeshivah relocated Kramer to Israel, he returned to his native United States where he was jailed in 2008 for sexual offences against a child.

While in custody in the US, he unsuccessfully fought extradition to Australia to face the Victorian charges.

Victim advocate Manny Waks said justice had been done with Kramer's sentencing but accused Yeshivah College of protecting Kramer by sending him to Israel.

"From the very beginning all they did was support the perpetrator," he said outside court.

"Ultimately now we are observing justice for the many victims."