Marsden resident, Ahmad Raza Khan, 31, jailed for arson and fraud

A South East Queensland business owner has been jailed for setting fire to his restaurant, causing more than $3 million in shopping centre damage and forcing another business owner to declare bankruptcy. Here’s why he says he did it. 

A Logan business owner has revealed a plot to save himself from bankruptcy was behind a devastating fire at a shopping centre in Brisbane’s south, which caused more than $3 million of damage and forced other business owners to close their doors.

Marsden resident, Ahmad Raza Khan, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court to two counts of arson, and two counts of attempted fraud.

The court heard the 31-year-old was under financial stress when he decided to light his wife’s car on fire in 2016 before setting his restaurant on fire in 2017 order to gain an insurance payout, the court heard.

Ahmad Raza Khan, 31, pleaded guilty to arson and fraud. Source: Facebook

Khan was a shared owner of a restaurant called, Lahore Grill Cafe and Restaurant at Rochedale Shopping Village when he fell into debt.

Lahore Restaurant went up in smoke on September 17, 2017. Picture: Mark Silburn

The court heard Khan lit his wife’s Mazda on fire on in August, 2016 and told police it was stolen from their home while they were staying in Surfers Paradise but phone towers picked up the location of the couple’s phones in the Beenleigh area.

“That was clearly a lie,” crown prosecutor, Samantha O’Rourke, said.

Judge Chowdhury said the actions showed a “level of desperation and criminality which was alarming”.

But after his car insurance claim failed, Khan took drastic measures to clear his debt on September 17, 2017 when he set his restaurant on fire.

A man working in a nearby bakery saw smoke and called emergency services.

“Not only did you damage your own restaurant you caused significant damage and harm to other owners,” Judge Chowdhury said.

The blaze left major damage to Lahore Restaurant. Source: Facebook

When questioned by police Khan said he left the restaurant earlier before the fire broken out and also told them he suspected someone was after him and his wife.

“You lied to police and said you did not know anything about the cause of the fire,” Judge Chowdhury said.

Judge Chowdhury said Khan should have sold the restaurant or looked for other alternatives to solve his financial problems.

“It might be humiliating but it is so much better than resorting to crimes,” he said.

Khan’s lawyer, Eric Engwirda, said his client’s actions were uncharacteristic.

“He had a good upbringing, he’s a hard worker,” he said.

The opening of several new businesses, who were meant to open around the time of the blaze, was delayed while 12 other businesses were damaged by the fire.

Twelve businesses were significantly damaged in the fire at Rochedale Shopping Village in 2017

“The damage to the shopping centre was so significant,” Judge Chowdhury said.

“The owner of the bakery had to walk away and declare themselves bankrupt, the devastation to him is significant.”

Khan was convicted and received five years imprisonment, suspended after serving 14 months.

He will be released on July 6, 2023.