Authorities are appealing to the public for information regarding a baby boy who has been missing since April 2021. 17-month-old Hoang Vinh Le’s parents allegedly gave him to a woman they met in a coffee shop earlier this year, but the baby has not been seen since.
Hoang Vinh Le was last seen on April 9 at a Canberra medical practice. It was on this day that his parents, Hoang Thanh Le and Lyn Kim Do, allegedly removed him from his grandmother’s care. A court recovery order was put in place shortly after, calling for Vinh to be returned to his grandmother. However, this did not happen.
Vinh’s parents say they handed him over to a woman in a Sydney coffee shop on May 19. They say they gave the woman $200 to take care of the baby.
According to the parents, the woman who took Vinh was named “Kathy Nguyen”. Authorities have said they have yet to find evidence to verify the existence of the woman.
It is illegal in the state of New South Wales to identify children who are suspected to be victims of a crime. However, an exception has been made by the court in hopes of finding the infant who was last seen seven months ago.
Vinh’s parents were arrested on May 20 and jailed for contempt of court after they refused to share details of his whereabouts with authorities.
“The parents have not provided sufficient details to enable the police to identify the person who they say is caring for Vinh,” the Australian Federal Police and Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia said in a joint statement.
“The Recovery Order remains in effect as Vinh’s location and the identity of the person who is with him are currently unknown and authorities are concerned for his welfare.”
Authorities have said the baby may be located somewhere in New South Wales, in areas such as Cabramatta/Bankstown, Liverpool, West Wyalong, Temora, and Wagga Wagga.
Authorities have also said that anyone knowingly withholding information concerning the welfare or whereabouts of Vinh may be contributing to an offence.
Anyone who has information pertaining to the disappearance of Hoang Vinh Le is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and use the Australian Federal Police reference number 6365180.
