A Chinese national reportedly threw a cup of hot coffee on a nine-month-old baby boy in a park in Queensland, Australia, in August.
The child, named Luka, was with his mother at the time. According to Chinese media, the man was angry after learning that his visa application had been rejected.
The child was rushed to a hospital with severe burns. The incident led to multiple skin grafts and surgeries. It has been reported that the suspect knew about the police’s methods for finding him.
He reportedly traveled to Sydney before he left the country.
The incident has raised questions about the reason behind the attack. Investigators have refused to provide details about the case, which could hinder the investigation.
However, Chinese media reported that the cup of coffee was allegedly thrown by the man due to his visa application being rejected.
The suspect, who is believed to be 33 years old, arrived in Australia on a working holiday visa in 2019 before securing a student visa. It’s believed that he worked at a meat processing center on the east coast.
His visa would have expired in a couple of months, so he tried to renew it. Unfortunately, his application was rejected.
According to Chinese media, the man became infuriated and threw the cup of coffee at Luka before running away. New Tang Dynasty Television also reported that a man claimed to have known the attacker and said that he had a mental problem.
The parents of Luka, who suffered severe burns after being hit by a cup of coffee, said they would have preferred to have known about the suspect’s identity weeks before it was reported by the media.
The mother of the child told Nine News that they were not informed about the suspect’s whereabouts.
The father of Luka wants the suspect to be brought back to Australia to face trial for the crime he committed, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The child, who has been recovering from his injuries, is now free from bandages.
Luka underwent several skin grafts and had scar management procedures. Although the police have identified the suspect, they have not released his identity due to concerns that it could affect the investigation.
The suspect’s identity was revealed by Chinese media. Andrew Massingham, the acting commissioner of the Australian police, noted that the manhunt for the individual responsible for the heinous act continues.
Massingham noted that disclosing the suspect’s identity on social media could distract the authorities from their efforts to find him.
He said the police would continue to keep the details of the suspect’s identity private until they release it to the public.
Massingham was asked by Peter Fegan, on the Today Show, to describe the attack on Luka, and he said it was right up there with what he had experienced as a law enforcer.
He noted that the child would have suffered a long-term injury.
Over 30 law enforcers and detectives are working to find the man who attacked Luka. CCTV footage showed the man, who was wearing a black hat and shorts, as he made his way to Sydney the following day.