A Chinese national accused of throwing hot coffee on a baby before fleeing the country is still being hunted, police say.
Baby Luka was at a picnic with this mother at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner, Brisbane, when the man, out of nowhere, poured scalding coffee on him, causing burns to more than 60 per cent of his body on August 27.
Luka suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and has undergone four operations in Queensland Children’s Hospital.
The 33-year-old accused was on a student visa at the time and drove to NSW a day after the alleged attack before flying out of the country from Sydney on August 31.
Chinese media reported the man had entered and exited Australia many times since 2019 – initially using a working holiday visa before later switching to a student visa.
Throughout that time, he lived in various locations on Australia’s east coast and worked in a meat processing plant.
But when his latest visa application was rejected, the man’s frustration allegedly erupted in the coffee attack, Chinese media reported.
‘Finally, he vented his anger and [allegedly] hurt a baby before leaving Australia,’ reported China’s New Tang Dynasty Television.
The 33-year-old Chinese national is pictured on the day of the incident
Luka suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body following the hot coffee attack (pictured)
Luka suffered burns to his face, upper body and arms and underwent four operations
The man reportedly has ‘a brain problem’ according to a co-worker.
The Chinese media outlet alleged the man ‘probably [attacked Luka] to take revenge on the white people, before running away’.
Queensland Police gave an update on the manhunt on Thursday with Acting Commissioner Shane Chelepy telling 4BC radio that it was ‘absolutely’ ongoing.
‘This was a horrible incident that happened almost a year ago, it struck our investigators pretty hard,’ Chelepy said.
‘I give credit to those investigators, they’re still working very hard on this, this isn’t something we’ve parked in the corner, this is a very serious offence, and they’re working hard on it.
‘What I can say is we’re still working with our international partners to progress this matter, and to get a resolution here.’
Chelepy said police were limited in what they could reveal and he didn’t deny or confirm that detectives were currently, or had been, in China.
‘There are a range of investigative strategies under way, and we’re going to keep these strategies at play,’ he said.
‘I don’t want to compromise their investigative strategy.’
