The extraordinary incident was one of five escapes from the Maribyrnong Detention Centre in the past four months. Authorities have launched a security review.
Leonard Gjeka was plucked from the detention centre by two fellow outlaw motorcycle gang members — believed to be Hells Angels — on November 11 after they cut a hole in a perimeter fence, marched into the compound and walked him out.
They fled on motorcycles.
It is alleged the breakout was witnessed by several guards but they did nothing because they were intimidated by the bikies.
Gjeka, an Albanian national, was arrested by detectives from the fugitive taskforce in Melbourne nine days later and subsequently deported.
He has been banned from ever returning to Australia. Police called him extremely violent, and he forged a fearsome reputation in Adelaide.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal the other four escapes from the western suburbs centre in recent months.
Michael Dobson, a New Zealander, fled in the same incident as Gjeka.
A Chinese detainee climbed on to the roof then took a running jump over a fence to escape in January.
On Tuesday last week, a Vietnamese man did the same thing, climbing on to a roof and jumping a fence. It is alleged he waved goodbye to a guard.
A day later, last Wednesday, an asylum seeker escaped while being escorted to a Migration Review Tribunal.
Sources have told the Sunday Herald Sun that the major issues at the detention centre were security cameras not working, faulty door sensors and an “electric” fence which is no longer electrified.
Sophia Dickinson, a spokeswoman for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, said: “The department treats escapes from immigration detention facilities very seriously and is working closely with the detention service provider and local police to enhance security. Due to the efforts of the police, detention service providers and the department, two (escapees) have been detained.”