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VIC:Prison escapee fled funeral after 'corrections failure'

A prisoner with links to organised crime remains on the run six weeks after he escaped custody while attending his brother's funeral.

Orijol Rukaj was at the Keilor East cemetery, in Melbourne's northwest, on April 25 under the supervision of Corrections Victoria officers.

The 47-year-old was given permission to make the supervised visit while being held in remand at a correctional centre in Lara, northeast of Geelong.

He was set to face court in June on drug importation charges, Victoria Police Acting Inspector Simon Pengelly told reporters on Thursday.

"We don't believe that he's a danger to the community, but obviously they're very, very serious charges of drug importation," Act Insp Pengelly said.

Rukaj was tasked with carrying his brother's casket and was one of about 300 people who attended the ceremony, Victoria Police said.

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