By CASEY NEILL
DETECTIVES have made a breakthrough in their seven-year search for a missing Noble Park man, but need the community’s help to complete the puzzle.
Mahalingham Sinnathamby, 68, was last seen at a doctor’s appointment in Hall Road, Carrum Downs, about 9.50am on 25 August 2005.
Investigators believe the pensioner filled a prescription before returning home.
He kept in regular contact with family members but no one has seen or heard from him since.
He was known to withdraw his pension every fortnight to buy groceries but his bank account has not been accessed since July 2005.
The Star spoke to Mr Sinnathamby’s distraught son a year on from the disappearance.
Uthayakumar Mahalingham sent out a plea for information about what happened to his father, who’d lived alone in Noble Park for 10 years after fleeing Sri Lanka due to political turmoil.
Mr Mahalingham said the stress of the situation had forced him to quit his job, and his wife Pamini said she’d been chronically ill since they received the news Mr Sinnathamby was missing.
This week Greater Dandenong CIU detectives released the image of a man they want to speak to in relation to the disappearance.
Detective Senior Constable Kane Taylor said police recently received anonymous information through Crime Stoppers and urged the caller to make contact again.
He said police had started to piece together the puzzle but needed the community’s help.
“For the past seven years Mr Sinnathamby’s family has been in limbo, not knowing what has happened to their loved one,” he said.
“Someone out there knows something and it is time for that person to come forward and help provide the closure they do desperately need.
“Even the smallest piece of information could be the final piece of the jigsaw that we need to close this case.”
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 with any information.
