A PAEDOPHILE ring operating in Adelaide more than two decades ago had international links with groups in the United Kingdom, an inquiry has heard.

Detective Sergeant Len Mosheev told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that raids under an investigation into paedophiles in 1993, called Operation Deny, revealed the connections.

“On 10 September (1993), the morning of the raid, had it be then been appreciated that there were possibly links between this group of suspected paedophiles in Adelaide and international activity?” asked lawyer Peter Humphries.

“I suspect that even before the raid there was some link on that,” replied Det Mosheev.

Questioning of Det Mosheev, who handled the investigation into paedophile Brian Perkins, has continued at the hearing today.

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media_camera Detective Sergeant Leonid Mosheev outside the Royal Commission to give evidence. Picture: Greg Higgs

The witness was also quizzed yesterday by Counsel Assisting the Commission, Sophie David, for close to five hours.

Two other police witnesses are expected to give evidence today.

The inquiry is examining the handling of claims of child sexual abuse at St Ann’s Special School at Marion between 1985 and 1991 by the Catholic Church and South Australia Police.

In her questioning this morning, Ms David asked Det Mosheev if he had been aware of a Crime Stoppers report made in 1999.

She said the report was made by a family member concerned Perkins had moved to a different area and was still committing sexual offences.

“The person who called into Crime Stoppers seems to say that not only are they concerned, but they’d like to speak to investigators as they have more information about Mr Perkins and his activities,” Ms David told the hearing.

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media_camera Former Catholic school bus driver Brian Perkins sexually assaulted intellectually disabled children at the school and died in prison.

Det Mosheev said he couldn’t recall, or wasn’t aware, of this report at the time.

In response to questions from the lawyer representing the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide, Jane Needham SC, the witness agreed there were no documents that show he contacted St Ann’s in 1993 and 1998.

Det Mosheev agreed it was possible he didn’t contact the school at those times.

The witness also agreed with questions from Counsel Assisting Ms David that there should have been more communication and information provided to St Ann’s Special School about events at the time.

“I think in some ways, things could have been done better back then in relation to communication, yes,” he said.

The Commission also heard officers were so concerned after senior police shut down Operation Deny that the anti-corruption branch examined the investigation’s end.

media_camera Brian and Helen Gitsham, the parents of a former St Ann’s student who was abused at the school, outside the commission. Picture: Greg Higgs

Det Mosheev told the inquiry only the events of 1993, not earlier investigations into Perkins in 1991, were the focus of anti corruption branch’s investigation.

Today the Commission heard Det Mosheev was involved in extradition of Perkins from Queensland back to Adelaide in 2002.

Yesterday, the witness Det Mosheev told the Commission he agreed with an earlier decision not to extradite Perkins.

When Ms David asked him why, he responded that the victim was a young, intellectually disabled man who he thought he would struggle to give evidence.

“I remember him being terrified of going to court,” Det Mosheev said.

“I tried to explain to him what would happen and he was a very frightened boy. You know, the object of that — this is, too, is to look after the victim’s interests and you know obviously I was very concerned for LH (the victim).”

media_camera Detective Senior Sergeant Walter Conte, at the royal commission to give evidence. Picture: Greg Higgs

Perkins was employed by the school as a bus driver and also volunteered in the woodworking workshop.

He was charged in 1993, but fled Adelaide after skipping bail in January, 1994.

Although police located him in Queensland in 1998, he was not arrested and extradited back to Adelaide until 2002.

Perkins pleaded guilty to five sex offences against three St Ann’s students and was sentenced to 10 years in jail.

He died in prison in 2009.