Former Jewish school principal found guilty of sexual abuse

Israeli-born Australian Malka Leifer, right, is brought to a courtroom in Jerusalem in 2018 (AP)

The former principal of a Jewish girls’ school in Australia has been found guilty of sexually abusing two students, ending a nine-year legal battle that strained relations between the Australian and Israeli governments while antagonising Australia’s Jewish community.

Malka Leifer, 56, a Tel Aviv-born mother-of-eight, was convicted on 18 counts, including rape, and acquitted of nine other charges, including five that related to the eldest student, Nicole Meyer.