NOVEMBER 4, 2022
Police in Queensland, Australia, has announced a record 1 million Australian dollars (Rs 5.2 crore) reward for information on an Indian man who is a suspect in a 2018 murder in the country.
According to the police, Rajwinder Singh, who worked as a nurse in Innisfail, is a prime suspect in the murder of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley in Far North Queensland.
Singh fled Australia two days after murder
Cordingley was walking her dog on Wangetti Beach, 40km north of Cairns in Queensland, when she was killed on October 21, 2018.
Singh, originally from Buttar Kalan in Punjab, fled the country two days after Cordingley was killed, leaving behind his job, wife and three children in Australia.
“We know that Singh departed Cairns on October 22, the day after Toyah was murdered, and then flew from Sydney to India on the 23rd. His arrival in India has been confirmed,” Detective Acting Superintendent Sonia Smith said.
Last known location was India
“We have confirmed today that the last known location for Singh was India,” she added.
Now the Queensland Police is seeking international help, including from India, to nab Singh.
“We strongly believe there are people in Australia and overseas who could share information about the whereabouts of Rajwinder Singh. This is most definitely the time to come forward and tell us what you know,” Smith said.
Highest-ever reward by Queensland Police
The one million Australian dollars is said to be the largest ever offered by Queensland police.
An investigation centre has also been established in Cairns and police officers from across the state who speak both Hindi and Punjabi have been flown in.
These officers will be able to receive information from anyone in India who might know Singh’s whereabouts via WhatsApp.
“In India, people with information can call the Australian Federal Police at the Australian High Commission on+91 11 41220972,” said Australian High Commission in New Delhi.
“Police will not give up – we remain incredibly determined to find answers for Toyah’s family and will do whatever we can to bring them closure.”
Victim’s family waits for closure
On Thursday, Cordingley’s mother, Vanessa Gardiner, spoke about the reward and her “beautiful, spiritual” daughter.
“Her life was taken way too early. I see her friends and stuff getting married with kids and that now and think of everything she has missed out on in her life,” Gardiner said.
“She was just about to start her first full-time job on Monday, which never happened.”
