Attempts to Silence the Media and Victim Blame?

Reports in Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper and website Gay Sydney News show that convicted Grindr fraudster Dongqiao Li in late August 2025 sought, through his lawyer, to suppress his name and details of the case being published. This was sought on mental health grounds.

It is my belief that this was potentially a worrying and cynical attempt to silence the media with something as serious as mental health being used and even weaponised as a reason to prevent legitimate reporting of the case. Covering the case is clearly in the public interest and I consider it of concern that there was an apparent attempt to prevent such transparency and openness as well as keep Li’s identity out of the public domain.

Thankfully journalists successfully challenged a media suppression order. The magistrate wisely said she was not satisfied that the case and evidence put before the court would cause mental health problems of such a gravity and level of harm to allow a suppression order to be made.

In another twist Li’s lawyer had claimed at an earlier hearing following his April 2025 arrest in Melbourne that her client had missed a Sydney court appearance the previous week because he had claimed that he had a stalker in the court. The magistrate responded that this apparent stalker was probably the victim.

I can confirm that this was indeed a victim with whom I have spoken. I feel that to blame a victim and to attempt to use him as an alibi and a ruse for absconding takes things to a new level and is the height of manipulation. This victim also spoke to me about aspects of Li’s behaviour in the court room towards him which caused him concern. The victim also has concerns that this was an attempt to try and intimidate him or even silence him. This person has every right to be in the court room as both a member of the public and as a victim. The victim also has every right to feel safe in the court room.

There is surely a certain irony about someone who lures people into an act as intimate as sex in order to go through their wallets to steal their ID and debit/credit card information accusing others of intrusive and inappropriate behaviour.

After Li fled from the court in NSW, he was found guilty of all fraud related charges in his absence by the Sydney magistrate. Li remains wanted on arrest warrants in both NSW and South Australia.

Dongqiao Li (spelt as Dong Qiao Li in Victorian court documents) being led away in handcuffs by detectives from Victoria Police after being arrested in Melbourne on April 11 2025. Photo supplied.