Farhad Jamal had been mixing with "bad people" in the years before his disappearance from a South Melbourne supermarket on April 28, 2009, a coroner has been told.
An inquest into Mr Jamal's disappearance heard on Wednesday that he had an extensive criminal history and was involved in several ongoing criminal matters at the time he vanished.
The 36-year-old, who was well known within Melbourne's Afghan community, is believed to have fallen in with the wrong crowd after becoming caught up in the nightclub and party scene.
The month before his disappearance, Mr Jamal told his brother he believed police were "trying to kill" to him by running him over with their car, counsel assisting Jessika Syrjanen told the court in a summary.
Days before he disappeared, Mr Jamal was convicted of criminal damage and placed on a community corrections order, which required him to attend an alcohol and drug support program. He attended the program the day before he vanished.
On April 28, 2009, the last day he was seen alive, Mr Jamal used his bank card to make a purchase at an Aldi supermarket in South Melbourne before disappearing without a trace.
The following day, records showed he had advised authorities of a change of address to Bentleigh East.
He was officially reported missing to police 12 years later, in 2021, although the court was told this was due a miscommunication by police.
"Farhad's family explained they attended the Reservoir Police Station on at least two occasions inquiries about his whereabouts," Ms Syrjanen said.
"He was not officially recorded as missing by police on these occasions, potentially due to a miscommunication or misunderstanding."
In 2024, information about Mr Jamal's disappearance was posted online by police, although no information, leads or information were received.
During the police investigation, detectives pursued several leads, including allegations that one associate had wanted to pay to have Mr Jamal murdered to avoid repaying a large drug debt in January, 2009.
State Coroner Liberty Sanger stated on Wednesday she was satisfied Mr Jamal was dead, after a range of proof-of-life checks failed to uncover any confirmed contact with family, friends or support services since April 29, 2009.
But Judge Sanger could not determine how or when he died.
"I note he was allegedly involved in serious criminal offending and it is possible his disappearance and death is related to this alleged offending," she said.
"In the context of associating with criminal associates, coupled with the fact his remains have never been recovered, it is possible he many have died in the way of accident, misadventure, or homicide."
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