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The NSW Government has announced a $100,000 reward for information on the suspicious disappearance of a man from Sydney’s Chinatown precinct.

Qing Yue Chen was last seen by his flatmate as he left their Dulwich Hill unit about 11am on Tuesday 24 October 2000. It’s believed that on this morning, Mr Chen borrowed money from his employer and withdrew another sum from his personal bank account before attending a Sydney casino.

The 39-year-old later walked to Chinatown, where he made a distressed phone call to a friend just before 1pm. No conversation was made, but Mr Chen’s voice was recognised among several unknown males.

Mr Chen has not been seen or heard from since. Police located his white Toyota Corona three days later in the car park of the casino.

A coronial inquest in 2008 concluded Mr Chen was deceased, but could not determine the manner or cause of his demise.

State Crime Command’s Unsolved Homicide Team formed Strike Force Shoult to investigate Mr Chen’s disappearance, and has welcomed today’s reward announcement.

“While it is not clear what happened to Mr Chen after he made that phone call, we do suspect foul play,” Detective Inspector David Laidlaw of the NSW Police Homicide Squad said.

“We hope this reward will encourage someone with vital information to come forward and help close the book on this case,” Det Insp Laidlaw said.

A hard-working taxi driver, Mr Chen had been looking forward to establishing a home in Sydney for his wife and newborn son, who were still living in China at the time of his disappearance.

Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Shoult investigators should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided in confidence and anonymously.

The reward of up to $100,000 is payable for information that leads to the conviction of the person or people responsible for the death or disappearance of Mr Chen.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

September 2012