New Zealand raise 100,000 dollars for slain Indian-origin cabbie Mohini’s family

AUCKLAND - People across New Zealand have contributed 100,000 dollars to the family of slain Auckland Indian-origin taxi driver Hiren Mohini.

The money was raised through a nation-wide appeal, reports the New Zealand Herald.

The collection was achieved even as police continue to search for Mohini’s killer.

They believe the suspect has fled overseas.

Auckland Co-op Taxis general manager Barrie White expressed heartfelt thanks on behalf of the Mohini family and the company to all those people who donated money.

He said the generosity of the public was overwhelming.

An education fund has also been set up for the Mohini children by Wilkinson Insurance Brokers.

Mohini, 39, died on January 31 after he was repeatedly stabbed in the Auckland suburb of Mt Eden by a passenger he had picked up in the central business district.

The country to which the suspect fled does not have an extradition treaty with New Zealand, which could pose some difficulties if he was found and police wanted him brought back to Auckland to stand trial, Stuff.co.nz reports.

Earlier, certain media reports had claimed that Mohini’s murderer could have fled to China, and Auckland Police was in talks with international law enforcement agencies to locate him.

Detective Jones, who is the key man investigating the case, however, refused to confirm the claim that the suspected killer was in China.

A team of 50 officers have been hunting for Mohini’s killer, taking unprecedented steps such as putting up in the central city a billboard of a man filmed getting into the cab.

Police also released security camera footage of an Asian-looking man captured on CCTV in the CBD before the killing.

He was carrying a bag similar to a distinctive bloodied blue bag found a short distance from where Mohini died.

Jones had said the bag and a distinctive black knitted cap in it could be vital clues in finding the killer. The cap had a large white logo outlined with three circles. (ANI)