Hundreds turn out to farewell ‘Mr Big’ Walid Ahmad at Lakemba Mosque
GANGLAND figure Walid “Wally” Ahmad, killed in an execution-style murder was farewelled in a funeral befitting a Mr Big of organised crime.
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GANGLAND figure Walid “Wally” Ahmad, killed in an execution-style murder at Bankstown Central almost a week ago, was farewelled in a funeral befitting a Mr Big of organised crime.
The streets around Lakemba Mosque were jammed for more than two hours as mourners and onlookers, including some of Sydney’s most colourful Kings Cross identities, paid their last tributes.
Ahmad died in a hail of bullets as he and two others were ambushed by a masked gunman on the rooftop carpark at Bankstown Central Shopping Centre at 11.45am last Friday.
Police kept a close watch on today’s proceedings - on the ground and in the air - as the funeral ceremony attracted a large gathering of family members, friends and supporters.
They included Fadi Ibrahim, who arrived at the mosque surrounded by five associates, and long term bodyguard “Tongan Sam” Ngata.
When the chief mourners carried Ahmad’s coffin from the mosque to a waiting hearse just after midday, the crowd erupted in chants of “Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest).
Police believe Ahmad may have been killed as payback for the shooting death of Safwan Charbaji at Ahmad’s smash repair shop at Condell Park earlier this month.
The 40-year-old crime figure, who established himself as a standover man, was wanted for questioning over the shooting death of Charbaji, 32, after an argument with a group of men.
Ahmad’s teenage son Taha posted a tribute to his father: “Rest in peace dad u had the best smile I’ve ever seen the kindest heart. People always took u wrong by the way u look but to us u were the most important person.’’
After the funeral Ahmad’s body was driven away for a private burial.