Haunting footage emerges of Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim’s underworld rival taunting him in the lead up to his execution – as his long list of enemies is revealed

A slain bikie was taunted by a gangland enemy in a chilling phone call prior to his death.

Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim, 32, spent six months in hiding before he was gunned down outside the Preston’s Quest Hotel in Melbourne’s north on Tuesday morning.

Detectives are investigating a long list of the gangster-turned kickboxer’s enemies which includes two bikie gangs, powerful Middle Eastern crime syndicates and a string of feared underworld figures.

The footage, taken at an unknown time, showed underworld kingpin Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad mocking Abdulrahim over the phone while travelling in a car.

Hamad, who was deported to Iraq in mid-2023 after serving jail time for drug trafficking, is suspected kickstarting the ‘tobacco wars’ and running a powerful criminal network in Melbourne from the Middle East.

‘Hey, I’m still alive brother. Eight shots later and I’m still alive,’ Abdulrahim bragged on the phone.

Hamad replied: ‘You’re lucky. Luck, luck, luck’.

The eight shots Abdulrahim mentioned was in reference to the attempted hit carried out at his cousin’s funeral in June 2022. 

Abdulrahim was travelling in a line of cars leaving Fawkner cemetery when he was shot eight times, including in the chest.

The attempted hit was followed by another attack, with his parents’ house shot in a hail of 17 bullets.

The latter shooting forced Abdulrahim to relocate to Melbourne’s outskirts, where he began hiding in several properties and rentals.

He also temporarily fled overseas in Bali, Thailand and Malaysia.

However, after six months in hiding, dwindling funds forced Abdulrahim to return to the city. He was killed less than a day later.  

During the call, a man travelling in the car with Hamad warned Abdulrahim that he was being watched.

‘You can’t protect yourself, my brother. I’m gonna stand over you,’ he said.

Abdulrahim responded: ‘I can protect myself. None of your boys are anywhere to be seen down here.’  

Abdulrahim and Hamad also discussed extortion prices to be imposed on Victorian tobacco stores during the call.

Hamad, who has maintained an iron fist over Victoria’s illicit tobacco trade from the Middle East, told Abdulrahim: ‘You’re offering two grand a week, and a hundred grand.’

Abdulrahim replied: ‘You’ve got too much, give me some money. I’ll let you open up in Melbourne. I’ll protect them for you.’

Hamad, laughing, shot back: ‘I’m doing it hard.’

On Tuesday, Abdulrahim was left dying a pool of blood in front of his traumatised girlfriend as his killers escaped in a Porsche getaway car, later found burnt out several kilometres away.

No less than 18 attacks were carried out against Abdulrahim and his associates prior to his assassination.

He had been the target of three murder contracts, a prison bashing, three assaults, a dozen fire bombings and seven shootings.

Abdulrahim had many powerful gangland enemies – including Kazem Hamad and his close associate Ahmed Al Hamza, as well as the Mongols and Comanchero motorcycle gangs.

Three other kingpins likely out for Abdulrahim’s blood – Nabil Maghnie, Gavin Preston and Kadir ‘KD’ Ors – who have all passed.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam/CCTV footage or any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.