Manhunt after child rapist escapes custody at Sydney hospital

Police are hunting a man convicted of gang raping a 14-year-old girl after he escaped immigration detention while receiving treatment at a western Sydney hospital.

Michael Angok, 30, was transported from Villawood Immigration Detention Centre to Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital on Wednesday morning, before escaping and fleeing on foot shortly after 9.30am.

Angok, the latest person to escape strict guard in the NSW hospital system, was wearing a black hooded jumper, grey tracksuit pants and white “Croc” sandals, police said.

A manhunt was launched involving PolAir, police dogs, and the Raptor unit. Some of Angok’s possessions were found discarded on Gallipoli Road.

Police described Angok as being of African appearance, about 180 centimetres tall, with a thin build.

“[Angok] previously resided in the Blacktown area and may utilise the public transport network,” NSW Police said in a statement.

Detective Superintendent Brett Van Akker said police were working day and night to bring Angok into custody.

“He’s well known to us,” Van Akker said. “He has a criminal conviction and was awaiting deportation at the time.”

Asked why police waited 24 hours to inform the public, Van Akker said they did not want to compromise search efforts or cause unnecessary community alarm.

Detective Acting Inspector Stuart Kimble from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said detectives were still investigating how Angok managed to escape the custody of Border Force officials, and whether anyone was injured in the process.

Police urged anyone who sees Angok not to approach him, but instead to call Triple Zero immediately.

Angok was convicted for his role in the gang rape of a 14-year-old girl at a western Sydney park in 2014. He was sentenced to a non-parole period of two years after pleading guilty to several counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a person under 16.

He has been in immigration detention for several years since his release from prison in 2017. It is unclear when he was expected to be deported from Australia.

An Australian Border Force spokesperson said the agency was working closely with NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police to locate Angok, but did not comment on specifics of his case.

In February, Luke Peter Francis, 31, allegedly overpowered a nurse and stole her access card to escape Cumberland Hospital before killing two women in a car crash during a police pursuit.

Setefano Mooniai Leaaetoa, 25, had been an involuntary patient at the same hospital and escaped during a transfer to Westmead Hospital on February 7. He was later charged with murder and attempted murder after allegedly stabbing one person to death and severely injuring two others at a Merrylands grocery store.

Another 25-year-old man absconded from Cumberland while on approved leave just three days after Health Minister Ryan Park announced a snap review into the two previous escapes.

Anyone with information about the latest incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website.

If you or someone you know needs support, you can contact national sexual assault counselling service 1800 Respect, CASA sexual assault crisis line 1800 806 292 or the Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

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