By CASEY NEILL
“ALL signs of life have just stopped, but where is he? We really don’t know.”
Greater Dandenong CIU Detective Senior Constable Kane Taylor has been investigating Noble Park grandfather Mahalingham Sinnathamby’s disappearance for the past 18 months.
Last Wednesday 26 February he told a Coroner’s Court direction hearing that police now believed him to be deceased.
The Sri Lankan-born 68-year-old was last seen at a doctor’s appointment in Carrum Downs on 25 August 2005.
There’s evidence he filled a prescription at a Dandenong pharmacy and returned home with the medication – then nothing.
“By all accounts, he just vanished,” Sen Const Taylor said.
“Of course, that doesn’t just happen. But there’s been absolutely no evidence to suggest anything.
“It’s really quite strange.”
Mr Sinnathamby was formally listed as a missing person on 24 November 2005 after worried family members were unable to contact him.
Police contacted the Department of Immigration, neighbours, hospitals, morgues, Mr Sinnathamby’s bank, family members and more in their search.
In 2007 they investigated reports of a person with a similar name living in Queensland and in 2009 dispelled reports he was living in Western Australia.
Detectives again thought they’d made a breakthrough in March last year when an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers suggested a new suspect.
They appealed for public help to solve the puzzle, but Sen Const Taylor said interviews with the man and investigations found no evidence he was involved in the mystery.
“It’s been the most exhaustive investigation,” he said.
“We’ve not left any stone unturned.”
In August 2012 Sen Const Taylor started proceedings for a Coroner’s Court finding.
Last week, State Coroner Judge Ian Gray said he was satisfied police had exhausted all avenues of inquiry and adjourned the matter to prepare his written finding.
“I’ve worked with the family pretty closely over the past 18 months,” Sen Const Taylor said.
“They’re a great bunch of people. I wanted a better resolution for them.
“It’s sad because it’s not complete closure for them.”
He told the Coroner’s Court that police investigators had been unable to establish any evidence to suggest the deceased was still alive, but the investigation would remain open.
“It’s the biggest mystery that I’ve been involved with,” he said.
“I think it’s one that will stay with me for quite a while.
“It will always be in the back of my mind.”
