Rapist fails to report to police after being freed from immigration detention

A man who twice raped a sex worker and threatened to shoot her is on the run after cutting off his monitoring bracelet – and now police have released an urgent plea for public support in tracking him down.

Registered sex offender Sajed Ali. Picture: Victoria Police

A missing rapist freed from immigration detention after a controversial court decision cut off his monitoring bracelet before going on the run in Melbourne.

The Herald Sun has been told registered sex offender Sajed Ali severed the ankle device some time last week after he was in Collingwood on March 5.

Investigators have released images of him, one captured at Collingwood railway station on that date.

Victoria Police, which took charge of the investigation on Monday, said this week Ali was in breach of his reporting conditions.

The Herald Sun has been told the 33-year-old was among more than 200 detainees freed after a 2023 High Court decision that the use of indefinite detention was lawful and unconstitutional.

Ali was in 2019 found guilty of twice raping a sex worker and robbing another at knifepoint in the St Kilda area.

In the first case, Ali paid a sex worker $70 and told the woman: “You need a punch. You’re bad girls, you need a punch”.

He then appeared with a knife in his hand before demanding she hand over her handbag.

Just a week later, Ali paid another sex worker $100 before raping her near a sports facility in Albert Park.

He raped her a second time before telling her: “I’ve got a gun, I’ll shoot you”.

Sajed Ali was in 2019 found guilty of twice raping a sex worker and robbing another at knifepoint in the St Kilda area. Picture: Victoria Police

Another sex worker later reported him to police before he was taken into custody.

“The behaviour of Mr Ali towards them must have been frightening and I have no doubt it left them feeling distressed, anxious and psychologically affected,” a Judgement in his case said.

A 2020 sentencing hearing was told Border Force was awaiting the case’s result and that Ali was likely to be deported or could apply for a bridging visa.

Ali is one of almost 300 detainees released following the 2023 landmark High Court decision, NZYQ, that ruled indefinite detention was unlawful.

The cohort includes murderers, sex offenders, violent criminals, drug offenders and domestic violence perpetrators.

A Department of Home Affairs spokeswoman said it was aware a bridging visa-holder was in breach of a community corrections order.

“Due to privacy obligations, the Department does not comment on individual cases,” she said.

Opposition immigration spokesman, Dan Tehan, said this was a “complete and utter mess” that continued to deeply disturb the community.

Mr Tehan said if elected, the Coalition would use preventative detention orders to ensure the released detainees could not go missing.

“The government’s failure to be able to keep the community safe is frightening,” he said.

“Law and order is becoming a bigger and bigger issue and this is one of the reasons why.

“They said that these people were going to be monitored 24 hours and now we have a rapist that is on the loose and hasn’t been seen or heard of for seven days.”

Ali is known to frequent the Nunawading, Sunshine, Collingwood, Ringwood, St Kilda and Shepparton areas.

He is described as being about 180cm tall, weighs about 80kg and has an olive complexion and dark hair.

Ali’s right hand has been amputated and he was last seen with a prosthetic hand covered by a glove.

He also has a glass eye.

Ali suffered serious injuries as a result of a grenade explosion in Pakistan and fled to Australia in 2019.

He moved to Footscray before working as a fruit picker in Shepparton.

He was physically assaulted and increased his use of drugs and alcohol in the regional town before becoming homeless.

He does not speak English and is illiterate in his own language.

Police have asked anyone who sees Ali to contact triple-0.

Anyone else with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.