By Cameron Houston and Chris Vedelago
Kickboxer and ex-Mongols bikie Suleiman “Sam” Abdulrahim was the target of several assaults in the months before two gunmen sprayed his Mercedes four-wheel-drive with bullets as he left a funeral in Melbourne’s north on Saturday.
A manhunt is under way for the masked offenders who ambushed and shot Abdulrahim, 30, as he left the funeral at Fawkner cemetery in what police believe was a targeted attack.
Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim in a photo from his Instagram page.Credit: Instagram
In a dramatic series of events on Saturday afternoon, the shooters crashed their getaway car into a fire hydrant before carjacking a woman and child at gunpoint and fleeing in their Ford Territory, while an injured Abdulrahim was driven in his Mercedes to the Fawkner police station where an ambulance was called.
Abdulrahim was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition. Police were called to an incident at the hospital’s emergency department on Saturday afternoon where sources said tensions and emotions were running high.
Despite his injuries, sources have told The Age that Abdulrahim was talking in hospital on Saturday. By Sunday morning, he was in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, Abdulrahim’s black Mercedes-Benz G-Class four-wheel-drive sat outside Fawkner police station with three bullet holes in the front driver’s side window, surrounded by police tape.
The black Mercedes outside Fawkner police station with three bullet holes in the driver’s side window.Credit: Paul Jeffers
The violence erupted shortly before 12pm when two men in a Mazda SUV with “cloned” number plates pulled up alongside Abdulrahim’s Mercedes as he left the cemetery on Box Forest Road and fired multiple shots.
The offenders sped from the scene but crashed the Mazda into a fire hydrant and traffic light pole near the intersection with Sydney Road.
The crashed getaway car.Credit: Paul Jeffers
They ditched the damaged Mazda and carjacked a Ford Territory from a woman and her son at the nearby Ampol petrol station and sped off, while Abdulrahim was driven to Fawkner police station.
Images from a video posted to social media showing one of the masked offenders fleeing the crashed Mazda.
“Firearms were produced in the carjacking but … the mother and her son were not injured, but obviously [it was] a terrifying experience,” Acting Superintendent Boris Buick said.
The Ford Territory was found in Union Street, Epping about 10pm on Saturday.
Police found the black Ford Territory wagon in Epping on Saturday night.Credit: Police
Saturday’s attempt on Abdulrahim’s life was not the first.
Since departing the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang earlier this year alongside other high-profile members Toby Mitchell and Mark Balsillie, Abdulrahim has been involved in multiple altercations with members of rival gangs. Sources have told The Sunday Age he was assaulted in recent months in Docklands, at a Melbourne cinema and at a Kensington boxing event.
Last month, he fought in a boxing match at an event in Port Melbourne that attracted a massive police turnout.
In 2019, the Supreme Court was told that Abdulrahim had been the intended target of two shootings and another firearm incident.
But on Saturday police said they had “no idea” who was behind the latest shooting.
Video captured at the petrol station opposite Fawkner cemetery shows one of the offenders, dressed in black and wearing a yellow mask, running from the crashed getaway car.
Images from a video showing the crashed Mazda and one of the masked gunman running from the scene.
When asked if police knew the identities of the shooters, Buick said: “No idea who they are.”
He was also unable to say if there could be retaliatory attacks. “Obviously an incident like this is terrifying for the public to witness, terrifying for the people who are involved,” he said.
“Victoria Police has committed significant local and specialist resources to this matter and initial investigation. It’s obviously very early in the investigation and many inquiries are underway.”
Suleiman ‘Sam’ Abdulrahim is arrested outside the Magistrates Court after a wild brawl in 2015.Credit: Eddie Jim
A professional kickboxer known as “The Punisher”, Abdulrahim made headlines in 2015 when he was involved in a wild brawl on the third level of the Melbourne Magistrates Court building with another kickboxer, Omar Bchinnati.
Security guards and police used capsicum spray to quell the fight. Abdulrahim was found guilty of assault and fined $2000. Abdulrahim and his father Farouk sued the State of Victoria over accusations of assault and battery against the force following the wild fight.
Five months after the brawl, Abdulrahim was driving a high-powered Ferrari 360 Spider almost 50 kilometres over the speed limit on the wrong side of the road when he ploughed into a car, killing an 88-year-old great-grandmother.
Abdulrahim was subsequently sentenced to three years and three months in jail, with a non-parole period of two years. He had a long history of driving offences, including speeding and driving while unlicensed.
Abdulrahim outside court in 2016.Credit: Jason South
He was released on parole in March 2019. However, his parole was revoked months later because of several attempts on his life. Abdulrahim’s sister was also threatened with a gun and his cousin’s house was shot at.
That decision was later overturned and Abdulrahim was freed, once again, to continue his boxing career.
At one point, he was also romantically linked with Married At First Sight star Jessika Power. Recent videos on his Instagram page show him continuing to train as a boxer.
Abdulrahim is linked to boxing promotion company Punisher Promotions, but does not appear on any corporate records connected to the business.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, with CCTV/dash cam footage, or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.
With Ashleigh McMillan and Patrick Hatch.
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