On 3 September 2022, a $24 million mansion in Sydney's Northwood was burned down. The mansion is owned by Ouyang Chen and his wife, Xiao Hong Li.
According to News Corp Australia on February 14**, the arson was Adams Kipkosgei Bett from Kenya, who had only been in Sydney for five months and was told that "you have to set the fire".
According to the report, the 20-year-old Bett has been in prison for nearly 14 months since September 2022**.
According to court documents, Bett told ** that since arriving in Australia in April 2022, he has been earning money by building houses and cutting down trees, and has done fence work for property developer Steve Nasssin.
adams kipkosgei bett
Steve Nassif (News Corp Australia).
After the fire, Nassif told ** that he and the owner of the house, Chen Ouyang, were "friends".
Chan was not charged with any wrongdoing, having bought the mansion in 2021 for $24.1 million**.
On the night of the fire, Nassif asked Bett if he was "available" to buy gas together and drive to the mansion in Northwood.
Bett revealed to ** that Nassif had told him that "a fire must be set on it". Bett said he did this because he was "afraid of Nassif" and that "a fire has to happen", adding that Nassif was waiting for him in the car when he set the fire.
News Corp Australia).
* The document reads: "Bett just wanted to keep his job and had never set a fire before." He entered the house at the instructions of Nassi, poured gasoline and lit the fire. ”
The filing states that during a questioning in December 2022, Bett "fully confessed" with the assistance of a Kiswahili interpreter, saying he was "frustrated" after the ignition.
The document also states that he was supposed to set the fire a week ago, but he refused to do so.
News Corp Australia).
* The statement of fact states: "No one gave him a reason to do so, and he did not know why he had to set the fire." No one paid Bett and he didn't ask for it because he didn't expect to do such a job. ”
Bett has pleaded guilty to allegedly deliberately or recklessly damaging property, and will be sentenced on March 26 with a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
News Corp Australia).
Bett's lawyer, J**id Faiz, told News Corp Australia that despite its serious nature, "I am very sad to see a young man being taken advantage of and found in this pathetic situation".
Faiz also said that his client had not applied for bail since ** and hoped to be released as soon as possible.
Nassif was also charged with alleged involvement in arson, but he pleaded not guilty to charges of arson damaging property and possession of firearms without authorization.
Nassif was released on bail in December 2022 after posting a $400,000 bond and will stand trial again on 22 February.
News Corp Australia).
* Will allege that Nassif had previous business ties with Chen and Ouyang. According to the documents, Nassif revealed to ** that he and Chen Ouyang "sometimes go hunting together" and "occasionally" keep in touch.
In July 2022, Chen appealed to the Lane Cove City Council, which had previously rejected the application to demolish the mansion. There is no indication that the application is related to a fire.