Abusive letters to country’s leaders allegedly sent from prison hospital

A series of alarming letters that shut down a government department and detailed vile threats against the child of a judge were allegedly penned by an inmate inside the Long Bay prison hospital.

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A refugee arsonist whose fire killed a woman has been charged by police over vile letters sent to celebrities and politicians — a campaign that prison hospital officials refused to stop.

Saeed Dezfouli has been inside the Forensic Hospital at Long Bay prison for the past 17 years after lighting a fire at a government building that killed a woman in 2002.

Despite him writing repeated abusive letters demanding to be sent back to Iran, it is understood hospital prison authorities refused a request from police to stop posting them because Dezfouli was a patient not an inmate and thus had the right to communicate.

On Tuesday the NSW Fixated Persons unit charged Dezfouli with 16 offences, including making a bomb threat.

Saeed Dezfouli has been charged with 16 offences, including making a bomb threat.

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Last month, a letter allegedly sent by Dezfouli — containing white powder and addressed to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian — forced the shutdown of a government building in Martin Place.

NSW Fire and Rescue crews were at the building for almost two hours and Attorney-General Mark Speakman was one of the government officials locked out of his office while the hoax was dealt with.

It will also be alleged in court that Dezfouli sent a letter to a judge on the Mental Health Review Tribunal threatening to rape his daughter.

Saeed Dezfouli in 2002 after he was charged with lighting a fire at a government building, in which a woman died. Picture: Mick Tsikas

Dezfouli was working as an interpreter for the Ethics Commission in Ashfield when he lit the fatal fire. Picture: Jim Trifyllis

Letters were also sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s office, SBS, Channel 10 and presenter Mark Ferguson at Channel 7.

Problem prisoners in jails often have their incoming and outgoing mail screened to avoid situations like these but that is not the case for inmates who are housed in the forensic hospital.

The hospital treats inmates found not guilty for their crimes on mental health grounds until the Mental Health Review Tribunal signs off on their release.

The Iranian embassy has previously asked the state government to send Dezfouli back but concerns have been raised about releasing Dezfouli without a guarantee that he would receive psychiatric care.

The 60-year-old came to Australia in 1983 as a refugee and was granted citizenship three years later.

NSW Police and Fire and Rescue workers outside 52 Martin Place, Sydney last month. Picture: Joel Carrett

In 2002, he was working as an interpreter for the Ethics Commission in Ashfield when he developed a delusion that former prime minister John Howard was trying to assassinate him.

It is understood some of the most recent letters included images of Mr Howard’s head stuck to a donkey.

According to Justice Action, Dezfouli wrote letters in 2002 to then-Premier Bob Carr and Police Minister Michael Costa complaining that Mr Howard was planning to kill him and stated if he didn’t get a response he would set fire to a government building.

He later set fire to the Ethics Commission building in Ashfield and a woman died as a result.

He was found guilty due to mental illness and has been inside the prison hospital ever since.

Dezfouli is due to appear in Waverley Local Court on February 13.

A spokesman for Justice Health and the Forensic Mental Health Network said “it would be inappropriate to comment” while a police investigation is underway.