Detectives from Tasmania Police’s Taskforce Artemis, have extradited an 84-year-old man from Queensland for alleged child sexual abuse offences.

The man will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court tomorrow morning (Monday 19 May), on charges of three counts of persistent sexual abuse of a child, and three counts of indecent assault.

The abuse is alleged to have occurred between 1963 and 1982 and involve multiple victim-survivors connected the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where the man held leadership positions. The man was also a Tasmanian police officer between 1974 and 1977. As the matter is now before the courts, no further comment can be made.

Taskforce Artemis is a specialist police team investigating child abuse allegations from the Commission of Inquiry. The Taskforce is working closely with government agencies to share information, support victim-survivors, and hold alleged perpetrators to account through an intelligence-led approach.

It is acknowledged that offences of this nature are deeply disturbing, however, Tasmania Police strongly encourages anyone with information about any form of sexual abuse, regardless of the passage of time, to come forward and report it.

Reports can be made directly to police on 131 444, or by visiting a police station or Arch centre https://arch.tas.gov.au/. You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Crimestopperstas.com.au.

Anyone can report concerns or incidents involving police to the Tasmania Police Professional Standards online portal.

Any concerns or incidents involving government employees can be reported directly to the Integrity Commission or the Office of the Independent Regulator.

The Tasmanian Government’s Keeping Children Safe website is available at https://keepingchildresafe.tas.gov.au/
Support for victim survivors, if required, is available through Arch or https://keepingchildrensafe.tas.gov.au/get-support/