• Suspect fled from Australia to China

• Infant suffered severe burns to face and limbs

China has announced it is sending a police team to Australia to assist in the investigation of an incident in 2024 where a nine-month-old baby was doused with boiling coffee.

The infant suffered serious burns to the face and limbs while the family was at a park in southern Brisbane.

The 33-year-old suspect left Australia before police could identify him and is currently in China, which has no extradition treaty with Australia.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said on Thursday that a “working group” will travel to Brisbane to help with the investigation.

“We are serious in addressing this case, and serious about taking the necessary actions,” he told reporters.

The Chinese team will work with Australian authorities to determine “what exactly happened, how the incident occurred, and how both sides can collaborate in follow-up.”

Queensland Police and the Australian Federal Police issued a joint statement confirming their support for the Chinese delegation and expressing gratitude for their ongoing cooperation despite challenges due to the suspect’s location.

Authorities clarified that China has the jurisdiction to prosecute its citizens for acts committed abroad.

An arrest warrant has been issued for the man on charges of causing grievous bodily harm, a crime that carries a potential life sentence in Australia.

Police described the suspect as a transient worker who had visited Australia multiple times between 2019 and 2024, with addresses in Victoria and New South Wales.

The case sparked widespread outrage in Australia due to the nature of the attack and the severity of the infant’s injuries.

Reports indicated the man poured a cup of hot coffee on the baby while the family was having a picnic.

The child underwent multiple skin graft surgeries after the August 2024 incident, and his parents reported three months later that scars remained on his chin and shoulder, while the rest of his condition was improving.

An online fundraiser for the baby’s medical treatment raised over $230,000 USD.