The Sydney Morning Herald reported on April 18 that Sydney developer Steve Nassif admitted to being involved in an arson case against a mansion on the Lower North Shore. The house of the $24 million mansion is Ouyang Chen and his wife Xiao Hong Li.
Nassif, 70, was arrested at his residence in Wentworth Falls in December 2022 and faces charges of premeditated arson along with 21-year-old Adams Kipkosgei Bett. The two are suspected of deliberately burning down a 10-million-dollar mansion built in 1915 on Cliff Rd in Northwood.
Steve Nassif (图 来源:《 》)
In September 2022, the mansion was destroyed by fire almost 10 months after it was sold for $24 million.
On Thursday, Nassif pleaded guilty to arson charges in Downing District Court, an offence punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Nassif's lawyers said the defence had not accepted the claim that the property was valued at $21 million and that this detail was not included in the fact that the parties had agreed.
(Image source: The Sydney Morning Herald)
Police said Nassif drove Bett to the site in a gray Toyota Hi-Ace van, which then set the house on fire.
This historic property was held by the travel magnate Mary Rossi family for almost 60 years until it was sold to the Chan family, who already owned a 1980s house next door, which, if combined, would form a 7,547 square metre plot and become one of the largest private estates on the Lower North Shore.
(Image source: The Sydney Morning Herald)
Nassif's co-accused, Bett, who is currently in custody, pleaded guilty last year to arson and destruction of property, and he will be sentenced in the District Court on June 13.