Funeral for slain Melbourne gangland figure Suleiman “Sam” Abdulrahim

The body of gunned-down Melbourne gangland figure Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim has been carried from his funeral service in a gold coffin.

The body of slain gangland figure Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim has been carried away in a gold coffin at his funeral service in Melbourne.

About 200 mourners gathered at the Alawi Islamic Association of Victoria in the northern suburb of Epping on Thursday morning.

Abdulrahim – known as The Punisher – was shot dead by gunmen in front of his girlfriend outside a hotel in Melbourne on Tuesday morning. No arrests have been made.

Attendees with possible gang affiliations were seen among the mourners gathering for the funeral, including people with “1%” tattoos.

The funeral took place at a mosque in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

Mourners carried flowers which spelt Abdulrahim’s nickname, Suna. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

Three men arrived riding high-powered motorbikes, one of which was brandished with a decal reading “The Punisher” - an ode to Abdulrahim’s boxing moniker.

The female attendees wore the white mourning scarfs of the Alawi Islamic sect.

After the ceremony, Abdulrahim’s gold coffin was draped in green sheet and carried to the hurst.

Abdulrahim’s father, Farouk Abdulrahim, broke down outside the community centre and had to be helped to walk.

Sam Abdulrahim was killed in front of his girlfriend on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

This woman held Abdulrahim’s photo up in front of the cameras, urging media to “take a photo for him”. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

Haunting dirge noises - wailing laments for the dead - echoed from the mosque forecourt.

A family member carried a large framed image of Abdulrahim, lifting it above her head as she walked in front of the media pack and saying, “Take a photo for him”.

Four men carried flower wreaths spelling “Suna” - Abdulrahim’s nickname - behind motorcycles that led the hearse toward the cemetery.

There was only a light police presence in the surrounding streets, with three marked cars parked several hundred metres from the funeral.

Police cars were parked in the cul-de-sac outside the Islamic centre, but were moved to the next block as mourners began filling the car park.

Female attendees wore the white mourning scarfs of the Alawi Islamic sect. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

As Abdulrahim’s body was driven away, police blocked oncoming traffic on High Street in Epping, as the raucous motorcycles slowly led the hearse.

People in the nearby cafes and stores watched from the sidewalk.

A funeral notice described Abdulrahim as a man “full of life” who was “taken too soon”.

“He was loved by all and his smile would always light up the room,” it read.

“He will be dearly missed but never forgotten.

“A loving father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, partner, and friend.”

About 200 people attended the funeral. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

Underworld conflicts made Abdulrahim a marked man, and police had been aware of multiple threats to his life in recent years. Abdulrahim apparently returned to Australia the day before he was killed.

Abdulrahim was killed after multiple attempts on his life, including reportedly three murder contracts, a serious beating in prison, a dozen firebombings connected to his businesses including the illicit tobacco trade, and at least seven shootings.

The father, professional fighter and former bikie had gone underground to escape a reported $1m contract on his life.

Police moved away from the Islamic centre as mourners started to arrive. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

Video obtained by the Herald Sun after Abdulrahim’s death shows the fighter in a heated conversation, allegedly with a gangland rival, prior to the shooting.

Abdulrahim can be heard in the undated video joking with his rival over the failed attempts on Abdulrahim’s life.

“Hey, I’m still alive brother. Eight shots later and I’m still alive,” Abdulrahim tells the man.

The man replies: “You’re lucky. Luck, luck, luck.”

In 2022, Abdulrahim was shot five times in the chest and stomach at a Melbourne cemetery.

Abdulrahim’s parents’ house was sprayed with 17 bullets in May, 2024. The former Mongol bikie used the nickname “the Punisher” in the boxing ring.

Sam Abdulrahim was shot dead about 10.30am on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The gunmen approached Abdulrahim inside a carpark, at a hotel he had just checked into the night before. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Speaking from the scene in the suburb of Preston, just hours after the killing, Detective Inspector Dean Thomas was asked if it was “only a matter of time” given the threats made against Abdulrahim.

“I think common sense prevails,” Inspector Thomas said.

“Perhaps that is the case. But, at this stage we have nothing to suggest there was a live threat that was imminent.”

A burnt-out Porsche found near the scene immediately after the killing is being investigated as the getaway car.

He survived a previous attempt on his life when he was shot leaving a cousin’s funeral in 2022.

Police have since found a Ford Ranger found near Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport - within about 90km of the attack - which was again torched.

Detectives are now investigating whether the vehicle - which had a distinctive sticker of bull horns on the rear window before being burnt - was used to transport a group from where the Porsche was located, as reported by The Herald Sun.

A mobile speed camera was reportedly parked about 300m from where the Ford was set alight, sparking theories its driver could have been snapped if caught speeding, according to the masthead.

Originally published as Funeral for slain Melbourne gangland figure Suleiman “Sam” Abdulrahim