Le Nighia Andy Pham, 26, was arrested at Sydney International Airport on Sunday
An accused getaway driver in the gangland murder of a famous driver outside a Sydney gym reportedly applied for a passport in the weeks following the murder – and was about to board a flight to Vietnam when police stormed in.
Taha Sabbagh, 40, was shot dead outside the Elite Fight Force gym on Carlingford Street, in Sefton, Western Sydney, at around 6.30am on March 2, in front of a 12-year-old boy he dropped off at an MMA training session Fitness center.
Detectives arrested Le Nghia Andy Pham, 26, around 3:30pm on Sunday as he was preparing to board a plane at Sydney International Airport. He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station in Sydney and charged with the murder of Mr Sabbagh.
Homicide unit commander Danny Doherty said police will allege that Pham was involved in planning and facilitating the murder in a joint venture with other people.
Pham reportedly drove a second getaway car to collect the accused killers – who are still at large – after they left a white Mazda at the nearby Birrong railway station after the shooting.
Police will allege that Pham then drove the silver Volkswagen Golf, reported stolen in January, to an address in Bankstown. It was later found burnt out in another area.
Detectives arrested Pham (pictured) on Sunday as he prepared to board a flight from Australia at Sydney International Airport
Taha Sabbagh, 40, was shot dead outside the Elite Fight Force gym on Carlingford Street, in western Sydney’s Sefton
Detective Doherty said the Volkswagen was said to have been parked in Birrong with chrome plates a week before Mr Sabbagh’s death.
“There was a lot of planning,” he told reporters on Monday.
“Police will claim that on the day of the murder he drove the individuals responsible for the shooting to the Mazda, was active in the Bankstown area and then went back and picked them up.
“We’re not claiming he’s the shooter.”
Detective Doherty said police found out that Pham had been issued a passport in the weeks following the alleged murder.
He said detectives followed Pham to the airport and waited until it became clear he was leaving the country before arresting them.
They will argue that the Fairfield East man planned to stay out of Australia for a ‘long time’.
Detective Doherty said police will claim the evidence against Pham is “strong.”
Le Nghia ‘Andy’ Pham, 26, was arrested Sunday at Sydney airport and charged with murder
Pham (pictured) was taken to Surry Hills Police Station in Sydney and charged with the murder of Mr Sabbagh
He said officers broke the arrest news to Mr Sabbagh’s family, who were met with ‘mixed feelings’, particularly for his son who witnessed the alleged murder.
Pham has been released on bail to appear in Downing Center local court on Monday.
Mr Sabbagh’s uncle, Nasser Sabbagh, previously told Daily Mail Australia that the driver of a luxury car wrapped his arms around his son to protect him when he was shot.
‘Why do people kill other people? He’s a good man. Silent man. No criminal record,” he said.
Another family member said he wanted Mr. Sabbagh to be remembered as a ‘father, brother, uncle and cousin’.
A witness claimed they heard at least six gunshots and the sound of a car screeching away. A Mazda 3 was later found burnt out at nearby Birrong railway station.
The witness, who works in an office nearby, said they rushed to the scene and found the 12-year-old boy screaming for someone to help his father who had slumped over the wheel.
Paramedics, who arrived ‘within minutes’, desperately tried to revive Mr. Sabbagh, who was a regular at the MMA gym, but he died on the spot.
Mr Sabbagh had parked his black Mercedes SUV outside the Elite Fight Force gym (pictured) in Sefton when alleged gunmen opened fire
Police on the scene on March 2 following the alleged shooting outside Sefton gym
Mr Sabbagh was a top driver for several luxury chauffeur services in Sydney, regularly transporting high-level clients to meetings and parties, and cashing couples to weddings.
He once rode social media star Hasbulla and shared photos of MMA stars Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, and YouTuber Logan Paul.
“He has been with us from the beginning, almost four years now,” says the owner of one of the companies.
“He’s one of the best guys I know, always happy, always smiling.
‘He was our best, always answered the door, brought an umbrella when it rained – an all round nice guy. It’s a tragedy.’
Mr Sabbagh was a top driver for several luxury chauffeur services in Sydney, regularly transporting high-level clients to meetings and parties (pictured with social media star Hasbulla)
Taha Sabbagh, 40, with his children next to his black Mercedes
NSW Police Chief Inspector Danny Doherty said the shooting was believed to be a ‘targeted attack’ but whether he was ‘the intended target’ would be investigated.
“He was not well known to the police,” he said.
“He was associated with a number of people who are well known to the police and have strong criminal activity associated with them.”
Hundreds of mourners turned out for Mr Sabbagh’s funeral in western Sydney on March 4
Shortly after the alleged shooting, a burnt-out car was found at Birrong railway station