West Australian child protection officers have made telephone contact with the parents of baby Gammy amid concerns about the father's previous sexual offending against children.
The man and his wife have custody of Gammy's twin sister, who was brought to South Bunbury in Western Australia from Thailand soon after 21-year-old Pattaramon Chanbua gave birth to the twins in December.
Ms Pattaramon claims the biological parents abandoned Gammy because he has Down syndrome and says after learning the father has previously been jailed for child sex offences, she wants custody of the girl.
The WA Department for Child Protection and Family Support launched an investigation into the safety and wellbeing of Gammy's sister, but could not contact the parents during visits on Tuesday and Wednesday.
But on Thursday, Child Protection Minister Helen Morton said the department had made phone contact with the biological parents.
"This family needs the opportunity to have the considerations around the safety and wellbeing of that child undertaken in a really private, comfortable environment for them," she told Fairfax radio.
Ms Morton said there would not be any further public comment made about the matter while the investigation into the safety and wellbeing of the girl was underway.
"We think that the family deserves the opportunity for privacy and confidentiality," she said.
Meanwhile, the man's son said his father had a "massive heart" and brought out the best in his children, including three adult children.
"I can tell you how good of a father my dad was towards us. He's amazing," the son told Fairfax Media.
"He's made mistakes. We've accepted it ... he's made up for them.
"For everything to be brought back up (is) pretty heartbreaking, to be honest."
His comments echoed those of the man's wife, who said this week that her husband was a good man.
The son added the couple were devastated by allegations they abandoned Gammy, and said they would soon issue a statement explaining their story.
"The statement will cover everything, it will clear everything up," he said.
WA Supreme Court documents released on Wednesday night reveal the father was convicted of multiple indecent dealing charges in 1997 and jailed after two adult women reported historic abuse from the 1980s.
The father, now aged 56, was convicted of further offences in 1998 and had his sentence extended.
RSPCA officers removed a dog from the couple's property on Wednesday out of concern for its safety.
A family friend of the parents said on Tuesday that they were heartbroken to leave Gammy behind, but believed he would not live more than a couple of days because of a congenital heart condition.
However, the Thai hospital where seven-month-old Gammy is being treated for pneumonia has told the Bangkok Post the child does not have a life-threatening heart condition, as has been reported.
Ms Pattaramon also faces possible legal action from Thai medical authorities because her surrogacy payment of $15,000 breaches Thailand's human trafficking laws.
Share
