Kang Zhao charged with assault and robbery after Sydney Airport arrest

A man accused of attacking and robbing a woman in Canberra has been granted bail weeks after he was arrested at Sydney Airport.

Kang Zhao has faced the ACT Magistrates Court after he was arrested at Sydney Airport on December 5. Zhao is charged with assault and robbery. Picture: ACT Policing.

A man accused of attacking and robbing a woman in Canberra has been released on bail after he was granted a criminal justice visa.

Chinese national Kang Zhao, 30, was arrested at Sydney Airport earlier this month following a month-long manhunt.

Police had searched for Zhao since October 4 after he allegedly assaulted and stole an iPhone from a woman in an Acton car park.

Mr Zhao was found at Sydney Airport on December 5 and appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre on December 6, where he was extradited to the ACT.

In a statement to the media, ACT Policing alleged that at 4.10pm on October 4, a woman returned to her vehicle parked near Corkill Street, Acton, and witnessed three people spray painting over the signage on her car.

King Zhao was arrested on Monday at Sydney Airport. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Police allege Mr Zhao assaulted her and damaged her phone.

Mr Zhao first appeared at ACT Magistrates Court on December 7 via video link where he was formally charged with robbery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He did not enter any pleas.

Mr Zhao was formally charged with robbery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared at the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

His lawyer, William Chan of William Chan and Company Lawyers in Sydney, told the court his client was now an illegal immigrant because his visa had expired.

He said his client was not ready to apply for bail due to his immigration status and said he was in talks with the Australian Federal Police to arrange a criminal justice visa.

When Mr Zhao appeared at court on Monday prosecutors did not oppose his bail, which was granted by Magistrate Lisbeth Campbell.

Mr Zhao will appear in court on March 1, 2023.

Police are still searching for two alleged co-offenders, a man and a woman, and their investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Anyone with information about the case can contact Crime Stoppers quoting reference number 7234672.