Homicide Squad detectives are appealing for public assistance as they investigate the suspicious disappearance and death of a man from Sydney’s CBD earlier this year.
Hongli Qi, aged 28, was last seen by family at Sydney’s Town Hall, about 1pm on Wednesday (11 May 2022).
Detectives attached to Campsie and Sydney City Police Area Commands commenced initial inquiries into his whereabouts, with CCTV footage sourced of Mr Qi leaving an apartment complex on Macquarie Street about 6pm that day.
Local police continued inquiries, before detectives attached to the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Procyon.
Then about 10.30am (Tuesday 16 August 2022), police were called to bushland near Packer Road, Blaxlands Ridge, after reports a decomposing body was located by council workers.
The body was taken for forensic examination and has since been identified as 28-year-old Hongli Qi.
Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, said investigators are examining all of Hongli’s movements and interactions in the days leading up to his disappearance.
“Detectives want to talk to anyone who may have spoken to or seen Hongli in the days and weeks before he was last seen.
“His disappearance was completely out of character. His body was found some 80km from where he was last seen; we have a strong belief that Hongli has been the victim of foul play.
“Anyone who may have information which could assist detectives is urged to contact us, so we can provide some answers and closure for Hongli’s family,” Det Supt Doherty said.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Procyon investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
