Down-syndrome boy's Australian father attempts access to charity money

The Australian biological father of " Baby Gammy" has tried to access donated funds raised for the down- syndrome boy's medical expenses.

Peter Baines of Hands Across the Water told the Australian Broadcasting Commission on Tuesday that he could not be certain how much David Farnell, the child's Australian biological father and convicted sex offender, had tried to access but maintained the charity would do everything possible to ensure funds benefit Gammy.

"The funds were donated by everyone because of the alleged actions of Mr Farnell, and to think he believes he has some right of claim over it... I find it perplexing," Baines said.

West Australian couple David Farnell and Wendy Li left Gammy with his surrogate mother in Thailand last year when the couple found out the boy had down-syndrome, taking his twin sister to Australia instead.

The charity Hands Across the Water has raised almost 235,000 Australian dollars (186,662 U.S. dollars) for Gammy, with funds being used to buy his surrogate family a home and pay medical expenses. Endi