Desperate search for boy allegedly given away at Sydney cafe
Authorities are urgently searching for a 17-month-old baby boy who was allegedly given away by his parents to a woman they met in a coffee shop.
Hoang Vinh Le, born on June 21, 2020, has been missing for seven months after he was taken from his maternal grandmother's home in Canberra on April 9 2021 by his parents Hoang Thanh Le, 28, and Lyn Kim Do, 21.
A court ordered the child be returned to his grandmother's on April 19, 2021, but they failed to do so.
Police cannot confirm the woman who took Vinh exists
A joint media release between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia said the parents told authorities on about May 19 2021 that they gave the boy to a person they identified as 'Kathy Nguyen', who they met at a coffee shop and had paid $200 to care for the child.
Authorities have not been able to confirm whether the person who may be caring for the child is known by 'Kathy Nguyen' or if they exist at all.
The parents were arrested by police on May 20 2021, however, authorities have not been able to locate the child and are now appealing for the public's help.
"The parents have not provided sufficient details to enable the police to identify the person who they say is caring for Vinh," a statement from the AFP reads.
"Vinh's location and the identity of the person who is with him are currently unknown and authorities are concerned for his welfare."
According to an earlier release from the AFP, Vinh was last seen at a medical practice in the Canberra suburb of O'Connor on April 9, when he was reportedly put into a Silver ISUZU MU-X 4WD with the NSW registration CF72YI.
Police say Vinh may be in the following areas of NSW: Cabramatta/Bankstown, Liverpool, West Wyalong, Temora and Wagga Wagga.
If anyone has information about the whereabouts of the child Hoang Vinh Le, or his parents Lyn Kim Do and Hoang Thanh Le, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, quoting AFP reference 6365180
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