WhatsApp number set up for Rajwinder Singh reward for Indian manhunt in Toyah Cordingley murder case
The mother of Toyah Cordingley has questioned a years-long delay in approving a seven-figure reward for the capture of fugitive Rajwinder Singh as an international manhunt ramps up.
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Senior Queensland Police officers have been dispatched to India amid an international campaign for justice, four years after Toyah Cordingley was allegedly horrifically murdered at a secluded beach north of Cairns.
A reward of $1m has been offered for information leading to the capture of former Innisfail Hospital nurse Rajwinder Singh in an unusual move that could pay cash regardless of whether Mr Singh is convicted.
Posting of the reward four years after the alleged murder had still-grieving family members questioning what had taken so long.
A special task force made up of police officers fluent in Hindi and Punjabi has been formed to field calls through a police WhatsApp account.
The WhatsApp number is 0475 704 059.
An investigation centre has been established in Cairns which includes Cairns detectives, detectives from the Homicide Investigation Unit, State Intelligence and members of the Australian Federal Police.
Detective Acting Superintendent Sonia Smith confirmed posters would be distributed throughout India, but would not outline if television or online reward information was to be distributed.
Mr Singh was known to be brought up in the village of Buttar Kalan in the Punjab province.
Det Act Sup Smith couldn’t reveal if that area would be the focus of the manhunt or if Mr Singh was known to be living in the north Indian province.
“We have a number of strategies. It’s really important to protect the integrity of the investigation, knowing that this is still an active investigation,” she said.
“We would like this message to go worldwide. We would like this message to be heard in every part of the world to maximise our opportunity for someone to come forward and tell us where he is.
“So what we would say is if you or someone you know knows Singh, now’s your time to call police.”
Ms Cordingley was 24 when she was attacked and killed in October 2018 while walking her dog along the picturesque Wangetti Beach.
Last month in a major breakthrough reported by the Cairns Post, the Australian Attorney-General’s office confirmed an extradition order had been signed by the Indian Government to bring Mr Singh back to Australia for questioning over the callous slaying.
Police have released CCTV vision showing Mr Singh at Sydney Airport on October 23, 2018.
Detective Inspector Kevin Goan and Detective Sergeant Gary Hall from Cairns have travelled to India with Detective Inspector Chris Knight from the Homicide Investigations Group to spearhead a renewed push to bring Mr Singh to justice.
“I can confirm that they’re working with the Australian and Indian authorities in India,” Det Act Sup Smith said.
Toyah Cordingley’s mother Vanessa Gardiner through a veil of tears said her daughter was a very spiritual person and “her life was taken way too early”.
“I see her friends married with kids and I think of everything she has missed out on in her life,” she said.
“She was just about to start her first full time job on the Monday, that just never happened.
“She would do anything for anybody … she was such a great person and that personality (and) helping people (made her) stick out from the crowd.
“(It’s been) four years too long and I can’t believe they are actually putting out a reward and I’m hoping someone will come through with information and Toyah gets the justice she deserves.”
Asked why it had taken so long to post a reward Det Act Sup Smith cited the pandemic as a major “challenge” faced by investigators.
“This has been a complex investigation that’s presented many challenges and continues to provide challenges to us,” she said.
“One such challenge is the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s important to us that we work respectfully, respectfully with our Australian and Indian authorities throughout this process.”
Toyah’s father Troy Cordingley remained bitter about the loss of his daughter but welcomed a reward announcement.
“Toyah was a young woman who will never get the chance to live a full life and all that entails,” he said.
“She will never get the chance to live, laugh and love. Never get the chance to have children and grandchildren, to grow old. She will never get the chance to live the life she deserved. “This was taken away from her by a horrendous act.
“(Whoever is responsible) is, right now, living a free life with no consequences for their terrible crime and could even be committing more atrocious acts. This is not acceptable.”
The $1m reward (5,1000,000 Indian rupees) would be paid at the “sole discretion” of the Queensland Police Commissioner.
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Originally published as WhatsApp number set up for Rajwinder Singh reward for Indian manhunt in Toyah Cordingley murder case
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