A former employee of ultra-orthodox Jewish institution Yeshivah Centre has been charged with indecent assault offences that he allegedly committed while in prison.
Police allege the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Geelong Magistrate Ronald Saines via video link from Barwon Prison on Tuesday.
Police allege he committed two counts of indecent assault against one victim, and three counts of indecent assault against another victim last year.
Child sexual abuse at the Yeshivah Centre was the focus of a hearing of the Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse last month. The commission revealed that senior rabbis at the centre – which includes a rabbinical college and two single-sex high schools – ignored and covered up victims’ reports of abuse over more than 20 years.
Fairfax Media does not suggest that the centre ignored or covered up the alleged offences before the court.
The commission’s hearing in Melbourne focused on the centre’s response to victims’ allegations against three now-convicted sex offenders.
The man will next appear in court for another mention hearing and a summary case conference on March 17.