‘Fun, protective, loyal’: Jessika Power reflects on relationship with ex-boyfriend Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim

Former Married At First Sight star Jessika Power has opened up on her slain ex-boyfriend Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim, describing him as “happy go lucky”.

Former Married At First Sight bombshell Jessika Power has described her ex-boyfriend Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim as a fun, protective and loyal partner and expressed deep sadness for the loss suffered by his loved ones in the wake of his death.

A Melbourne underworld figure and well-known fighter in the city’s boxing circles, Abdulrahim was killed in a brazen daytime shooting in an underground Preston carpark on Tuesday.

Power, who rocketed to national prominence on Married At First Sight in 2019, started dating Abdulrahim on the Gold Coast late that year in the aftermath of the dating show.

She was introduced to him by mutual friends and they dated for a couple of months.

Jessika Power has described her ex boyfriend Sam Abdulrahim as a fun, protective and loyal partner. Picture: Instagram

“He was my first proper relationship after I broke up with Dan (her MAFS partner) after the show ended,” Power said.

“Our relationship was fun, our relationship was exciting, it was everything I needed in that moment.

“I was being battered by the media (for her MAFS storylines) and I wanted somebody who was not media orientated, who wasn’t media focused, who could just take my mind off things and we actually had a really great relationship.

“Sam was always a loyal friend, a loyal partner; he was a great partner to me, he was funny, he always lifted me up.

“There were some days where I would be broken down in tears over media stories and he always seemed to be able to make me smile.

“We dated for a couple of months, but while we broke up we remained friends ever since.

“He was fiercely protective over his family and friends and his partner, and he was just a funny guy.

“It (his death) has just been a big shock to all of us. How can you have such a bright light that has been burnt out. I feel so sad for his family.”

MAFS star Jessika Power and ex-Mongols bikie 'The Punisher'. Picture: Instagram

Power rocketed to national prominence on Married At First Sight in 2019. Picture: Luke Marsden.

Power said it was Abdulrahim’s underworld connections that saw her decide to end their romantic entanglement.

“It has been spoken about that I did leave him because of the underworld connections, but that never detracted from our friendship,” she said.

“We always remained really good friends and if I needed him he would be there for me.

“Sam always knew I did not end things because I did not want to be with him, it was more I don’t need to be around that toxic world.”

Power said she knew Abdulrahim as Suna rather than Sam and said her brother Rhyce had also been close friends with him.

“We have all been friends with him for years,” she said.

“When my brother did a charity boxing match (in 2021) Sam actually trained Rhyce for the fight in Melbourne.

“Rhyce unfortunately lost that fight, much to Sam’s annoyance.

“This (his death) has not just hit me, it has hit Rhyce as well. We have both been really cut up about it.”

Power shared her shock and grief about Abdulrahim’s death. Picture: Instagram

Power said her heart went out to Abdulrahim’s young daughter.

“His daughter has been left without a father. It is heartbreaking,” she said.

She described Abdulrahim as “always so happy go lucky.”

“Even during the assassination attempts on his life prior (to his death), he just sort of laughed it off,” she said.

“I think somebody who you look up to, who is so strong and so resilient and so happy go lucky and fun, and they say ‘don’t worry about it, it is fine, when it is my time, it is my time’, you don’t really think it is going to happen,” she said.

Power shared her shock and grief about Abdulrahim’s death on her social media platform, only to be targeted by trolls.

She urged people not to be ar*eholes online and asked that people please be respectful given someone had passed away.

Abdulrahim was laid to rest in a gold coffin in Melbourne on Thursday.