China is being urged to take action against a Chinese national who allegedly threw hot coffee on a nine-month-old baby despite the man being protected from extradition under Chinese law.
Baby Luka was with his mom in Hanlon Park on August 27, 2024 when a man, not known to the family, dumped a Thermos of hot coffee on him before fleeing the scene in a random attack which sparked public outcry.
The infant sustained burns to 60 percent of his body, including his face and upper body, and was forced to undergo multiple surgeries.
The man was captured on CCTV footage fleeing the scene but authorities were unable to track him down.
Just days after, the suspect – who was identified as a 33-year-old Chinese national – drove to New South Wales and flew out of Sydney on August 31. It is believed he returned to China via New Zealand.
Almost a year on from the incident, authorities are pushing for China to take action against the alleged offender, The Australian reports.
Under Chinese law, citizens cannot be extradited for prosecution to foreign countries.
It is understood that evidence from Queensland Police against the suspect has been provided to Chinese authorities. However, authorities have refused to confirm the move, the publication reports.
“There are ongoing conversations between Australia and China in relation to this matter,’’ an unnamed source told the publication, adding “it’s been made clear that they don’t extradite their own”.
Queensland Police last year put an arrest warrant out for the man for intending to cause grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum life sentence.
In June, Acting Commissioner Shane Chelepy told radio station 4BC investigations into the “horrible incident” were ongoing almost one year on.
“This isn’t something we’ve parked in a corner; this was a very serious offence, and we’re working hard on it,” he said.
“What I can say is we’re still working with our international partners to progress this matter and to get a resolution here.
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“We’ve got a range of investigative strategies.”
Acting Commissioner Chelepy said the incident “struck our investigators pretty hard” and paid tribute to their efforts in finding the culprit.
Radio host Peter Fegan asked the acting commissioner if Queensland Police had sent detectives to China, which he declined to answer.
“I don’t want to compromise investigative strategies,” he said.
Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton revealed last year the man fled the country just 12 hours after they identified him.
“I was in the investigation centre when we put a name to the face and it was a very happy room, only for us to do a check in 15 minutes and find out we’ve lost him,” he said.
“We’ve got 30 detectives working for me. They’re devastated that they missed this person by 12 hours.”
Young boy still undergoing treatment
About to turn two in October, Luka is still undergoing treatment for the serious injuries he sustained during the attack.
“Luka still has to have regular surgeries; he gets laser and skin needling to reduce the appearance of the scars,” his parents, who did not wish to be named, told The Australian.
They added the young boy has scars on his chin, shoulder, and back, but “otherwise, he’s healed really well and is thriving in life”.
Luka’s mother previously told the Courier Mail in November that her little boy had become “a bit wary of people” since the incident.
“In those first few weeks, we had no idea what his future was going to look like, especially because the burns were so significant,” she said.
“He’s healed really well and baby skin is amazing and the synthetic skin graft that they did worked really well.”
His father said the prominent burns seen on Luka’s body after the incident had healed “better than we ever thought”.
“Hopefully by the time he becomes a teenager you won’t even be able to see the scars anymore,” he said.
Suspect arrived in Australia six years ago
Chinese media reported that the man had been on various visas since arriving in Australia in 2019, first using a working holiday visa and then switching to a student visa.
He has lived in a number of locations on Australia’s east coast and previously worked in a meat processing plant.
But when his most recent visa application was rejected, the suspect was reportedly furious and allegedly sought to take out his anger on baby Luka.
“Finally, he vented his anger and [allegedly] hurt a baby before leaving Australia,” reported China’s New Tang Dynasty Television.
A person claiming to be a co-worker of the suspect said he had a “brain problem” on Chinese social media.
“On the mainland social media ‘Little Red Book’, a Chinese person in Australia who claimed to know him, broke the news that this man has always been weird and difficult to deal with,” added NTD Television.
“He has been working in a meat factory with a study permit for a long time. Later, the meat factory did not require a study permit.”
The TV station added that Luka was “probably [attacked] to take revenge on the white people.”
Police say the suspect has no family or criminal record in Australia and had previously worked in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
In a statement to news.com.au, Queensland Police said the investigation is ongoing. “Investigators from QPS and AFP remain committed to securing justice for the victim and his family,” the statement said.
“Further information will be provided at an appropriate time.”
