Yasir Al Qassim charged over attempted murder of ex-Mongols bikie Sam Abdulrahim

A teen allegedly involved in the planning of the shooting of an ex-bikie argues he should be given bail because he is “baby-faced”.

Yasir Al Qassim has been charged over the attempted murder of ex-Mongols bikie Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim.

A teen charged over the attempted murder of ex-Mongols bikie Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim should be freed on bail as his baby face makes him vulnerable in jail, his top barrister says.

Adam Chernok pushed for Yasir Al Qassim to be released back into the community, citing an array of reasons, including his youth and the Covid-induced delays in the court system, as exceptional circumstances to grant bail.

“He really is very baby faced,” Mr Chernok said, making the rare move of providing a photo of his client to the magistrate so she could get a clear view of what he looked like.

“He’s going into the adult system. His appearance alone, as well as his tender age, make him particularly vulnerable in that environment.”

Mr Al Qassim, 18, who was wearing a mask when appearing from Melbourne Assessment Prison via videolink, has been behind bars just 11 days after being charged with the attempted murder of Mr Abdulrahim.

Sam Abdulrahim miraculously survived being shot five times.

Mr Abdulrahim, 30, miraculously survived being shot five times in the upper body as he sat in his Mercedes-Benz, stopped in traffic, after leaving his cousin’s funeral at Fawkner cemetery just before midday on June 25.

The court heard Mr Al Qassim was not one of the hitmen who pulled the trigger, but instead picked up the two men, both 18, from their homes in Broadmeadows and Thomastown in the hours before, and dropped them at the Mazda CX9 used in the drive-by shooting.

Eight days earlier, he allegedly bought a phone and SIM, which was used on the day and to assist the two shooters to flee the country.

He is also accused of purchasing two petrol cans from Bunnings 10 days before in preparation for torching the cars involved in the plot.

Abdulrahim’s injuries.

Police opposed bail, saying there was an unacceptable risk Mr Al Qassim would flee overseas on a false passport like the two shooters did within 48 hours of the incident.

If released, he would also pose a danger to the safety and welfare of the public, they said, because he had been caught accessing firearms stored at an abandoned building in the weeks after the shooting.

Mr Chernok said any risks could be mitigated with strict bail conditions including a curfew and daily reporting to police.

Mr Al Qassim’s family were also prepared to cough up a $100,000 surety, he said.

But Mr Al Qassim will have to stay behind bars for at least the weekend with magistrate Donna Bakos reserving her decision as to whether to grant bail to Monday.