Toyah Cordingley murder accused lands in Australia after extradition from India
The man accused of the murder of North Queensland woman Toyah Cordingley has faced court in Australia after four years on the run in India, as Queensland Police releasing footage of the fugitive on board the plane. WATCH NOW
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The man accused of murdering North Queensland woman Toyah Cordingley has landed back on Australian soil after more than four years on the run.
Rajwinder Singh boarded a Qantas flight from Delhi at midnight and touched down in Melbourne around noon on Wednesday.
Three detectives, including one from homicide and two from North Queensland, flew with him from India to Australia.
On his arrival on Australian soil, Singh was issued with an arrest warrant from Queensland police at 1.10pm, before being transferred to court, Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan, from Queensland Police, said.
He was brought into Melbourne Magistrates Court just before 3pm, where he sat in the glass dock flanked by two custody officers.
The court heard he would need to stay in remand in Melbourne while police arranged for flights to Cairns in the coming days.
Act Supt Goan successfully applied to the court to be able to extradite Mr Singh to the sunshine state where he is expected to then be charged with murder.
Act Supt Goan said a private flight was preferred over commercial for the safety of the public and Mr Singh, due to the heavy media interest in his arrest.
He said there was a “lengthy process” ahead for Singh.
“Toyah’s family has been included every step of the way in this process and clearly they will take some comfort in knowing that the justice process will commence on Australian soil,” he said.
“They are clearly overwhelmed but delighted … that the judicial process will commence on Australian soil in the very near future.”
Supt Goan said Singh would be charged before Queensland courts “within a few days”.
Detailing the background of the case, Act Supt Goan told the court how an investigation into Toyah’s death at Wangetti Beach, about 30km north of Cairns, in October 2018, had led police to Mr Singh.
“The investigation relied upon DNA evidence which links Mr Singh to her homicide,” he said.
He said phone cell tower evidence also showed both Mr Singh and Ms Corgingley’s mobile phones “travelling in sync”.
An arrest warrant was issued, he said, but it was soon after discovered he had flown out of the country.
“He fled to India, abandoning his family and his employment in Innisfail,” Act Supt Goan said.
A global red notice was issued through the Attorney-General’s department, he said, with Singh’s whereabouts unknown at that stage.
Act Supt Goan said Queensland Police then issued a $1 million reward for his arrest, which finally happened in October last year.
He explained to the magistrate that the only reason the case was in a Melbourne court, was because the flight from India to Australia landed in the Victorian capital.
Cairns-based lawyer Derek Perkins dialled into the hearing from his north Queensland office to represent Singh.
He said they would not be opposing the police’s application to extradite Singh to Queensland.
“I can confirm I’ve spoken to Mr Singh and he instructs me that he consents to the application,” Mr Perkins said.
Singh only responded at the end of the hearing to nod in acknowledgment that he had understood the proceedings.
Before his arrival in Melbourne, Queensland Police had released footage of Singh being led onto an empty Qantas plane prior to other passengers boarding.
Singh, wearing tracksuit pants and a jumper, was helped to a window seat by Detective Inspector Chris Knight, formerly of the homicide investigator unit.
A statement released by police said: “The Queensland Police Service in partnership with the Australian Federal Police, Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department and Indian Government have successfully extradited a man to face prosecution for the murder of a Queensland woman in October, 2018.”
Singh was on Tuesday driven from Tihar Jail in Delhi in a prison car accompanied by six officers from Delhi police.
According to sources, Delhi police were to hand Singh over to a team of Queensland police, made up of a homicide detective and two officers from North Queensland, at the airport.
Singh underwent health check-ups prior to travel, including a Covid-19 test.
When Singh arrived at the airport, waiting media were stopped from taking pictures and videos, with The Courier-Mail’s freelance photographer’s phone seized and camera checked for images.
The equipment was returned, but not before Singh was ushered inside the airport under heavy guard. It’s understood Singh was briefed on the process of the flight and extradition inside the airport.
Singh has been in jail since his arrest on November 25, about three weeks after it was announced $1m would be paid to the person who helped find him.
Detective Inspector Sonia Smith on Wednesday said the $1m reward had not been issued as of yet however would be considered “following due diligence at the appropriate time”.
She said the arrest and international extradition of Singh highlighted the relationship between the Queensland Police Service, Australian Federal Police, the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department and Indian authorities.
“Whilst we acknowledge continued media and public interest in the case, our primary focus has always been ensuring justice for Toyah, her family and friends without compromising the investigation,” Insp Smith said.
“We have been determined to find answers for Toyah’s family and the work of all involved has been meticulous since that terrible day in October, 2018.
“It has been a long journey, including the announcement of the reward for information, $1 million — the largest in the Queensland’s history, back in November last year.
“Our thoughts, and I know those of the tight-knit community of Cairns have always been and will continue to be with Toyah’s family.
“Together with other Australian agencies we have continued to work closely and respectfully with Indian authorities to pursue justice for Toyah and her family.
“The relationship the QPS has with Australian and other law enforcement agencies again demonstrates the importance of partnerships internationally.”
The team of Queensland Police had been in India since February 21 to take custody of Singh.
“They have completed the paperwork and the India government has played its role, by honouring the treaty”, an Indian official said.
Singh previously told The Courier-Mail: “I am willing to go to Australia as I have done nothing wrong. I will reveal all details before an Australian court when I am back.”
Singh’s family did not turn up to the prison or airport to say goodbye.
“There was no need, we did our goodbye on Friday and now we will see him in Australia,” said Singh’s father Amar Singh while speaking to The Courier Mail by phone from his hometown in the North Indian state of Punjab.
“We have applied for the visa and are waiting for its approval. As soon as we get it, we will be in Australia. My son says he is innocent and I believe his words. I handed him first to God and then to the justice system of Australia.”
Ms Cordingley’s body was discovered by her father at Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, in 2018.
Police allege Singh, 38, boarded a plane out of Cairns that same day.
The 38-year-old left behind his wife and three children when he allegedly fled the country.
It is understood investigators worked with financial institutions to determine bank cards belonging to members of the Singh family were being used in the Punjab area, despite their owners being in Australia.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said what happened to Toyah was an absolute tragedy, but praised police efforts.
“Can I say how thankful we are for the police investigation here,” she said.
“It has been phenomenal to track this person down in India, and to do the extradition here.
“Hopefully it will give Toyah’s family a sense of comfort to know that the police did everything within their means.”
After the announcement of the million-dollar reward, police were provided with information from members of the public that Singh was being looked after by a religious sect.
He was arrested by Indian police while driving to New Delhi for a medical appointment.
Singh consented to returning to Queensland where he is expected to face trial for murder. He has denied having anything to do with Toyah’s killing.
Singh’s father, Amar Singh, denied his son was responsible for Toyah’s murder after visiting him in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
“He is innocent,” he said.
“(I) never thought of seeing my son in jail. It is a difficult moment for any parent.
“I have full confidence in Australia’s justice system that it will return my son to me.”
He said he was awaiting visa approval that would allow him to travel to Australia.
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