By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
A HOTBED for criminal activity, the Greater Dandenong region is also known for dozens of missing people.
This National Missing Persons Week the Australian Federal Police (AFP), through its National Missing Persons Co-ordination Centre, has partnered with Victoria Police in the hope new light can be shed on Australia’s growing list of missing people.
This year’s campaign; ‘Missing people leave frayed edges – Stay connected’ will conclude on Saturday 6 August- with the ultimate hope of finding someone, using clues from the public. Clues, which could put an end to the suspicious and heart-wrenching case of missing man Jake Lyons – who disappeared on Sunday 25 August 2014, from his Dandenong North home.
An extensive police investigation into Jake’s disappearance in December 2014 was unsuccessful and Jake has now missed two Christmases with his family and celebrating his 21st birthday.
Jake would be 22 years old now.
He was last seen wearing a blue hooded jumper, green jeans and black runners and may have been driving a 2006 silver Holden Astra, registration ULC-965, which was recovered by police in Warner Reserve, Springvale on 31 August 2014.
Jake has not made any contact with his family nor accessed his bank account since he was reported missing.
Police still hold grave concerns for Jake’s safety and welfare.
Another male in his twenties also missing from the region is Shiva Chauhan.
Shiva Chauhan has not been heard from since he sent a text message at 11.30pm on Thursday 1 May, 2014.
Concerns for Shiva were raised after it was discovered that on Friday 2 May, he did not complete his delivery run, nor attend an arranged meeting.
His delivery van was located on Hutton Road in Keysborough at around 3pm on Friday 2 May and Shiva’s wallet and identification were found inside the van.
Despite thorough searches, there have been no confirmed sightings of Shiva. He was last seen in Keysborough.
Shiva would be 29 years old now.
The cold case into missing young man Richard Hadwick also has links to Dandenong.
At 21 years old, Richard told his mother that he was going to Fosters Disco in Dandenong and left in a taxi from his parents’ Belgrave South home.
He had little money on him at the time and took no extra clothing or belongings.
He has not been seen since that day; Saturday 19 May 1990. Richard would now be aged 47.
Richard was bailed to attend Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on burglary charges on 24 May 1990 and reports indicate he was afraid he could be sent to prison.
Dandenong locals are also urged to report any sightings of missing Noble Park man, Mahalingam Sinnathamby who lived alone at the time of his disappearance.
Over time Mahalingam’s contact with family became irregular and his family were unable to contact him between late August and late November in 2005.
Police attended and conducted a welfare check on 24 November but were unable to locate him at that time and a missing person report was made. Mahalingam would now be 79 years old.
The awareness week, launched on Monday 1 August, also aims to draw attention to support services available for family and friends of missing people.
Anyone with information on a missing person can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
