Loved ones gather for funeral of slain Melbourne underworld figure Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim

Grieving family and friends of Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim have gathered at a mosque in Melbourne’s north to farewell the gangland figure.

Abdulrahim, 32, previously survived at least half a dozen attempts on his life but on Monday his luck ran out and he was slain in broad daylight in a Preston hotel carpark in front of his girlfriend.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Family of late Melbourne underworld figure say their goodbyes.

About 10am on Thursday the boxer’s loved ones started to arrive at his funeral service at Epping Mosque, which will be followed by a midday burial at Northern Memorial Park.

There was a heavy police presence, with officers shutting down High St in Epping as family and friends formed a guard of honour.

Four men walked behind several motorbike riders, holding letters made out of flowers spelling out the word Suna.

Another man was holding up a picture of Abdulrahim.

His funeral notice read: “Taken too soon, Sam was a man full of life, he was loved by all and his smile would always light up the room.

“A loving father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, partner and friend. He will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.”

Homicide detectives are trying to find his killers and are examining two burnt-out cars.

A Porsche SUV was found burnt out at Reservoir an hour after the shooting.

A grey Ford Ranger with a distinctive sticker of bull horns on the ute’s canopy rear window was found at Westmeadows and was also set ablaze, police confirmed on Wednesday.

Abdulrahim was shot in 2022, attacked with a rock in prison in 2019, shot at again in 2024 and was put back in prison at one point because police feared he was the target of three shooting incidents.

The attempts started from the belief he was connected to the killing of another gangland figure in 2016.

His death has sparked fears of revenge attacks by underworld figures.

- With Molly Magennis