Sydney man Rabii Zahabe probed over underworld figure Gavin Preston’s murder

Police arrested Rabii Zahabe in dramatic scenes in Sydney’s CBD — now he is being probed over the underworld figure’s death.

A second Sydney man is being questioned over the killing of underworld figure Gavin Preston.

A second Sydney man is under investigation over the murder of Melbourne crime figure Gavin Preston.

Victoria Police homicide squad detectives on Wednesday spoke to Rabii Zahabe, 23, in Long Bay Prison where he is being held on unrelated matters.

Zahabe was arrested in dramatic scenes in the heart of Sydney’s CBD on October 10.

He was allegedly on bail at the time police swooped and charged him over a loaded gun uncovered at the scene.

The weapon was allegedly behind the driver’s seat of a Toyota HiLux he and an associate, 22-year-old Paxman Joe, were using.

A police surveillance team had followed the pair as they shopped at the Westfield shopping centre in Liverpool, in Sydney’s west, earlier that day.

Rabii Zahabe has been questioned by homicide squad detectives over the murder of Melbourne underworld figure Gavin 'Capable' Preston. Source: Instagram

It was later alleged that Joe had a revolver in a small Gucci man-bag slung around his neck at the time.

Zahabe, from the southwestern suburb of Yagoona, was left bloodied and bruised after being detained on the corner of Macquarie St and St James Rd as part of an operation by the New South Wales robbery and serious crime squad.

It is believed Zahabe has been of interest to police examining the Preston murder for some time.

A Victoria Police statement said: “The man was interviewed by homicide squad detectives on 15 November, however he has not been charged in relation to the fatal shooting. The investigation remains ongoing.”

A subsequent court hearing was told he was facing a drug supply matter and that a warrant was out over a breach of bail at the time police swooped.

Zahabe appears to be a good mate of accused Sydney organised crime figure Tarek Zahed.

His Instagram account, on which Zahabe describes himself as an entrepreneur, contains many pictures taken with the Comanchero strongman.

It’s alleged a revolver was found in a small Gucci man-bag slung around Paxman Joe’s neck.

Zahed was operating out of Victoria until last year when he was shot and almost killed in a Sydney gym ambush which claimed the life of his brother Omar.

He will face trial next year with another brother, Abdul Kahir Zahed, over a 2014 murder in the Sydney suburb of Bankstown.

Much of the rest of Zahabe’s social media is devoted to photos and video of himself doing strenuous gym workouts and cruising the streets in prestige cars.

He also seems to have a strong interest in designer clothing and footwear.

Preston died as up to 10 shots were pumped into him at the Sweet Lulu’s Cafe in Keilor on September 9.

His mate, Abbas Junior Maghnie, was severely wounded when gunfire erupted at the Old Calder Highway business.

Jaeden Tito, 22, was arrested last month in the Sydney suburb of Bradbury and charged with the murder of Preston.

Both he and Zahabe have been accomplished rugby league players.

Zahabe played for the Greenacre Tigers and in 2018 was good enough to be selected in the NRL club Canterbury Bulldogs’ SG Ball Summer Cup squad.

Tito was named in the Dogs’ 2015 under-15 summer development squad.