Rajwinder Singh touched down in far north Queensland aboard a privately chartered jet on Thursday after spending his first night in Australia behind bars following his extradition from India.

Cordingley’s body was found by her father partially buried in the white sand of Wangetti Beach in October 2018.

Detective Inspector Sonia Smith said Singh would be formally charged with her murder later on Thursday night.

He’s expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday morning.

“The murder of Toyah had a significant impact on everybody and I acknowledge that her family and friends are still dealing with the loss,” Smith said.

“Now that the matter is before the court, I’d ask that the community not speculate and allow the justice process to be undertaken.

Singh, who has been in India since not long after the discovery of the 24-year-old’s remains, was extradited from Victoria to Queensland a day after he arrived in Australia on a flight from New Delhi.

The 38-year-old former nurse appeared calm as he stepped off the plane in handcuffs at the Queensland government airbase in Cairns on Thursday afternoon.

Flanked by four suited detectives, Singh wore grey tracksuit pants, a black tracksuit top and a navy Sikh turban as he was led across the tarmac in 32C heat.

He was ushered into the back of a police four-wheel drive and taken to Cairns Police Station, where he’s due to be formally charged.

Singh is unlikely to be able to make any immediate bail application due to the seriousness of the charge.

Earlier, Detective Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan said Cordingley’s family had been told Singh would soon return to Queensland.

“They’re clearly overwhelmed, but delighted that again, the judicial process will commence on Australian soil in the very near future,” he told reporters outside the Melbourne court on Wednesday.