## Property Developer Pleads Guilty to Arson of Sydney Mansion
Steve Nassif, a 70-year-old property developer, has pleaded guilty to damaging property by fire in relation to the suspicious blaze that destroyed a $24 million mansion on Sydney's north shore in September 2022. The mansion belonged to fund manager Ouyang "Owen" Chen, who is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Nassif's co-accused, 21-year-old Adams Kipkosgei Bett, had already pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly damaging property by fire. Bett is due to be sentenced in mid-June. Nassif's matter returns to court next month.
According to court documents, Nassif directed Bett to set the fire using a jerry can of petrol. Bett "only wanted work", but did not light the fire with the understanding he would be paid. He was not threatened by Nassif, although Nassif did instruct him to remain silent about it.
The incident was labelled as suspicious after investigators detected accelerant at the scene. The burned-down property was not insured at the time.
In late 2021, the Lane Cove Council rejected an application to partially demolish and significantly alter the house next door, in part due to heritage concerns over the house that burned down. An appeal against that decision was lodged in July 2022. There is no suggestion the DA rejection is related to the fire.