The police are seeking information from the public to help apprehend notorious escaped prisoner Lauititi Tualima who fled from the Tanumalala Prison on Wednesday evening.

Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo was questioned about the incident. Following this, the Samoa Police issued a notice about the escaped prisoner.

According to the notice, Tualima escaped from prison around 7 pm on Wednesday.

Tualima has a history of burglary, theft, breaking and entering, robbery, rape, grievous bodily harm and escaping from prison.

He is currently serving more than 20 years imprisonment after he admitted to raping an Australian tourist.

He was sentenced by Judge Justice Lesatele Rapi Va'ai who added 18 years on top of another 20 years sentence for separate convictions.

After serving 20 years for other previous convictions, he will serve 18 years for the latest charges he faced in 2016.

Police are warning that Tualima is considered dangerous. People have also been warned that harbouring an escaped prisoner is an offence which carries a sentence of jail time.

Police have said that any information leading to the capture of Tualima would be helpful.