Two detained at airport over Singh murder

By Shane Manning
Updated November 7 2012 - 12:25pm, first published January 10 2010 - 10:36pm

POLICE are refusing to reveal the identities of a man and a woman intercepted at Sydney Airport last week and questioned over the murder of Indian-born fruit picker Ranjodh Singh. The Indian-born pair, believed to be seasonal workers from Griffith, was stopped at the airport's departure lounge on Monday as they were about to board a flight to Nepal.They were questioned by police and later released after having their passports seized pending further investigations.Meanwhile, a post-mortem of Mr Singh's body has revealed his throat had been slashed and he suffered multiple stab wounds.His bound and badly charred body was found by a passer-by on the side of Wilga Road at Willbriggie on December 29.He was last seen at a party at a Kookora Street residence the night before and speculation is rife that he was murdered in a fight over money he was owed for harvest labour work.Mr Singh had spent the last 14 months in Griffith before moving to Wagga six weeks ago with friend and harvest labour contractor Harpreet "Harry" Singh.Harpreet Singh was forced to move to Wagga after a break-up with his wife and a subsequent AVO against him, taken out by his wife's new partner.Police would not disclose whether Harpreet Singh was a person of interest in the investigation.Local Australian Workers' Union organiser Harry Goring told ABC's PM program on Friday that he had received information that the murder was over money.Another local Indian contractor, known only as Ali, said he had heard that Mr Singh was still owed $4000 from his last job.Griffith crime manager Paul Smith said detectives were deep into their investigation but still needed information from the public."We have received a large amount of very important information from the public but we would still like to speak to anyone concerning Ranjodh's movements, associates, employment or anyone who may have seen a 1996 red Ford Falcon around the time of the murder," Det Insp Smith said.

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