Police are desperately appealing for public help to find a baby boy who has been missing for seven months, after he was allegedly kidnapped by his parents and given to a stranger in a cafe.
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Hoang Vinh Le - who was born in June last year - was taken from his grandmother's house in Canberra by his parents on April 9, the Australian Federal Police say.
A court ten days later ordered Hoang Thanh Le, 28, and Lyn Kim Do, 21, to return the boy to his grandmother, but police have been unable to locate him.
His parents were arrested on May 20, and told authorities they had the day before given Vinh to a woman named Kathy Nguyen, a stranger they met at a coffee shop, and had paid her $200 to care for their child.
But police have not been able to identify Ms Nguyen, or whether she exists at all.
That has prompted the AFP, the Federal Circuit and the Family Court of Australia to issue an unusual joint plea for public assistance to track down the boy.
"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."
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 believe the child may have been to Cabramatta, Bankstown, Liverpool, West Wyalong, Temora or Wagga Wagga, authorities said.
They have warned anyone who is knowingly withholding information about his location may be committing a criminal offence, and urged them to contact CrimeStoppers.
Australian Associated Press
