In a recent incident in Sydney, a 19-year-old Kenyan national named Adams Kipkosgei Bett has been arrested for his alleged involvement in setting fire to a $24 million heritage-listed mansion. Court documents revealed that Bett claimed he was directed to light the fire by property developer Steve Nassif, who admitted being present at the scene.
Bett pleaded guilty to intentionally and recklessly damaging the property and now faces a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in jail. On the other hand, Steve Nassif pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been released on bail after providing a significant surety.
The mansion, owned by property developer Ouyang “Owen” Chen, was completely destroyed in the fire. Investigations have also revealed that Nassif had business links with Chen, who had applied to demolish the property earlier but was rejected due to its heritage significance.
The case will return to court for further proceedings, shedding light on the unfortunate incident that led to the destruction of the historic mansion in Sydney.
