TWO men attempting to leave Australia have had their passports seized by detectives investigating the stabbing murder of an Indian-born seasonal work contractor in the Riverina town of Griffith.

They were stopped by police at the Sydney Airport departure lounge on Monday as they were about to board a flight to Nepal via Singapore. Both were questioned about their relationship to murdered 25-year-old Ranjodh Singh.

The men, believed to be seasonal workers employed by Mr Singh, were taken to Mascot police station for questioning, but were later released after having their passports confiscated pending further investigations by Homicide Squad and Griffith detectives.

Detectives are examining claims that Mr Singh, who lived in Wagga Wagga and recruited Indian immigrants to work on farms in the Riverina, may have been murdered in a fight over unpaid money to workers, after attending a party in Griffith on December 27 last year.

His bound body, which had been set alight in an attempt to conceal his identity, was found two days later by a passer-by on the side of Wilga Road at Willbriggie.

A post-mortem revealed his throat had been slashed and he suffered multiple stab wounds.

Police are also understood to be investigating possible links in the murder to a sexual assault upon a woman.

Officers from Strike Force Bramwell, investigating Mr Singh's murder, have renewed an appeal for information from the public, specifically the occupants of a car seen in the Griffith and Wagga Wagga area around the time of his death.

Griffith Police Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Paul Smith said police want to hear from anyone who may have witnessed a red 1996 model Ford Falcon with a rear spoiler in the days before and after the discovery of his body.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Griffith police via Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.

Accused wife killer handed himself in
THE AREA NEWS
20 Jan, 2010 10:03 AM
A MAN has faced court charged with the stabbing murder of his girlfriend during a domestic dispute, the second murder to rock Griffith in three weeks.

Rajinder Jit Singh, 25, was yesterday refused bail over the murder of Kathleen Cosgrove, 22, during an out of session hearing at the Griffith Local Court.

THEIR disguises of baseball hats and dark glasses look crude but these two fraudsters are part of a sophisticated gang using ATM skimming devices to fleece bank customers.

They have downloaded stolen account details on to blank credit cards and used them across Sydney and in Canada, China and India.

"It is a sophisticated organised crime network," he said.

The men are described as of Indian or Sri Lankan background but police do not know if they are locals or are part of an overseas crime syndicate operating in Australia.

It is the latest in the alarming card-skimming epidemic to hit Sydney.

Anyone who recognises the men should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000