Chabad Molester David Cyprys Guilty

Failed Messiah
September 17, 2013

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David Cyprys

The suppression order has finally been lifted.

David Cyprys, who hurt so many boys at Chabad's Yeshivah Centre while Chabad leadership covered up for him, has been found guilty of raping one boy in a stand-alone trial and pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 8 others in another trial.

The highest level of Chabad in Australia, the late Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner, protected Cyprys and threatened victims' parents, and his successors have been no better.

Cyprys also has an earlier guilty verdict dating back two decades for sexually abusing a child – something Chabad knew when it protected Cyprys and allowed him to work around children unchaperoned.

At any rate, as The Age reports, he was found guilty again:

A member of Melbourne's orthodox Jewish community has been found guilty of raping a 15-year-old boy, and pleaded guilty to molesting eight other boys, it can be revealed.

David Samuel Cyprys, 45, who was affiliated with the Yeshivah Centre in St Kilda East as a locksmith, karate instructor and leader of the centre's youth group, was last month found guilty by a County Court jury of raping the boy five times between 1990 and 1991.

A suppression order over the trial prevented media reporting the jury's verdict, until the order was lifted on Tuesday by Judge Peter Wischusen.

Cyprys was to plead not guilty in two more trials, but instead pleaded guilty to a further 12 charges on Tuesday, meaning the suppression order over his name and offending could be lifted.

The court heard that besides the rape victim, Cyprys abused eight boys aged between seven and 14 over an eight-year period, some in the Yeshivah Centre's bathing house and another while on a school camp.

Cyprys pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault, four charges of procuring an act of gross indecency, two counts of gross indecency and one count of attempted indecent assault.

17 September 2013

Tzedek, Australia’s only dedicated organisation advocating for Jewish victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, is delighted with today’s development in relation to former Melbourne Yeshivah Centre employee David Cyprys.

Going into the trial, which commenced on 12 August 2013, Mr Cyprys faced 40 charges of child sexual abuse related offences. There were 12 complainants in this case. Mr Cyprys entered not guilty pleas in relation to the first complainant – he was found guilty unanimously for all five rape charges. He subsequently accepted a plea deal. Mr Cyprys will be sentenced for a total of 17 charges – some of these are representative charges (multiple incidents of similar conduct). The charges relate to nine out of the 12 victims (three complainants agreed for their charges to be withdrawn as part of the plea deal). Mr Cyprys will face a pre-sentence hearing on Friday 8 November.

Tzedek Founder & CEO Manny Waks stated:

“This is yet another important milestone in the context of the ongoing child sexual abuse scandal currently plaguing our community. It is a most welcome development – one that hopefully sends out a strong message that perpetrators of such crimes will be held to full account, irrespective of when the abuse occurred.

I would like to acknowledge and thank all the courageous victims in this case for ensuring that Mr Cyprys is held to account for his past crimes. He will now also not be a danger to other children – at least during the period of his incarceration.

From a personal perspective, I am particularly delighted that one of the perpetrators in my case is finally facing justice. It was in July 2011 that I went public with my story and it brings me immense satisfaction to reap the rewards, which have often been accompanied by significant personal costs. No amount of justice can undo the decades of pain and suffering but I take much solace in the fact that this criminal, who has done so much untold damage to so many, is finally being held to account. I would like to thank my family, friends and supporters for their ongoing support and encouragement.

Hopefully this development also encourages other victims of child sexual abuse to come forward and provide their vital information to the police. The police cannot prosecute these criminals without victims coming forward. I completely understand some of the challenges for victims to come forward – often it may trigger the traumas of the past. But if we are to attain justice for the past crimes and ensure the safety of our children in the future, everything must be done to prosecute these criminals.

Today’s development is a great opportunity to reflect on the Royal Commission, which is currently underway. We have commenced sharing the information we have with the Royal Commission. I have already testified in a private session before the Royal Commission and can attest to this incredible opportunity, which is being facilitated in a very sensitive and personal manner. I encourage all victims and survivors to register their interest to testify before the Royal Commission. Of course Tzedek can help facilitate this for victims and survivors of Jewish institutions.

The Royal Commission is precisely one of the forums where we intend to hold Jewish institutions to full account for their complicity in these crimes. In the case involving Mr Cyprys, as well as in other cases, we intend to hold the Yeshivah Centre to full account for covering up and enabling the ongoing abuse. They have a great deal to answer for and we will do everything in our power to ensure the full truth is uncovered and that those responsible are held to full account.

Finally, I encourage all Jewish victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to contact Tzedek for confidential advice and support. You no longer have to suffer in silence; we are here to assist you in every way possible.”