Skeleton identified as Indian overstayer

A man whose skeletal remains were found in a forest near Gisborne was an overstayer from India, police said today.

The skeleton of the 23-year-old was discovered on the Wharerata Ranges in November last year.

Detective Sergeant Craig Scott said Balwinder Singh, also known as Babu Singh, was reported missing from Gisborne in October 1993 by a friend he was living with at the time.

Mr Scott said Mr Singh was an Indian national who came to New Zealand in 1989 and became an overstayer.

He was arrested in April 1992 for possession of a fraudulent New Zealand passport and immigration removal orders were served on him at the time of his arrest, Mr Scott said.

He subsequently applied for refugee status in 1993, which was declined.

Police yesterday announced they had upgraded their investigation to a homicide inquiry and were seeking DNA samples from the man's parents, who are living overseas, in a bid to find out if the remains were his.

Mr Scott said there were no definite links to the man but a forensic pathologist had provided a description that was "in the ballpark" of the man who has not been seen since 1993.

"The reasons for associating the disappearance of Balwinder Singh with the skeletal discovery is that the reconstruction by the forensic pathologist provided a similar description to the appearance of Balwinder Singh and the fact that Balwinder Singh's parents in India have not heard from him since the reported disappearance," Mr Scott said.

"It is hoped that DNA samples being obtained from his parents in India will conclusively identify or eliminate Balwinder Singh from this inquiry."

At the time of his disappearance, Mr Singh was wanted by police for failing to appear in the district court for removal from the country by the Immigration Department and for benefit overpayments by the Department of Social Welfare.

Police had initially considered that he had left the country on another unknown passport.

Two forestry workers had unearthed the skeleton after finding a pair of shoes.

- NZPA