Incident in a Brisbane park in 2024
China and Australia launch joint investigation
Chinese authorities are working with Australian investigators to apprehend a Chinese man who poured hot coffee on a 9?month?old baby and fled the scene.
According to recent reports from outlets including the BBC, the Chinese government has dispatched a dedicated team to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, to support the investigation. The incident occurred on August 27, 2024, in a park in Brisbane. At the time, an unidentified man poured hot coffee on a baby in a stroller and then ran away.
As a result of the attack, the baby suffered severe burns to the face, neck, chest, arms, legs, and other parts of the body. The baby is reported to have undergone a total of eight surgeries so far, including skin grafts and laser treatments.
A baby burned by hot coffee poured by a Chinese man. The photo was provided to Australian media by the baby's family. Screenshot from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The suspect is believed to have fled to China immediately after the incident, but his identity has not yet been made public and his current whereabouts are unknown. In the released closed?circuit television (CCTV) footage, a man wearing a checkered shirt and cargo shorts is seen running away in the park. Australian police believe it is highly likely that this man left the country on a flight departing from Sydney four days after the incident.
Xiao Qian, the Chinese ambassador to Australia, said, "We plan to dispatch a Chinese working?level team to Brisbane to assist with the investigation," adding, "We will closely examine the circumstances and development of the incident, and how the two countries can cooperate going forward."
China and Australia have not signed an extradition treaty. For this reason, the likelihood that the suspect will stand trial in Australia is slim.
In a joint statement, Queensland Police and the Australian Federal Police said, "China has extraterritorial jurisdiction that allows it to prosecute its nationals for crimes committed overseas," adding, "We appreciate the cooperation of the Chinese authorities and are continuing our close collaboration."
According to police, the suspect had traveled to and from Australia several times since 2019 and is believed to have been a temporary worker who mainly lived in New South Wales and Victoria. Australian police have obtained an arrest warrant for causing grievous bodily harm, a charge that can carry a life sentence in Australia.
Meanwhile, news of the incident sparked outrage across Australia. An online fundraiser for the baby's burn treatment raised 230,000 Australian dollars (approximately 232 million won). The baby’s mother said, "I am always afraid to go out in public with my son," adding, "Whenever I go out with him, I will always feel fear and anxiety. This will remain a wound that will never heal for the rest of our lives."
Fortunately, three months after the incident, the baby’s parents reported that while scars remained on their son’s chin and shoulder, the other areas were "recovering well."
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