Wonga Rd, Lurnea: Puppy allegedly set on fire, Jiman Yeon charged

It has been revealed a southwest Sydney man who allegedly set a blue staffy puppy alight deliberately, believed he “had permission” to kill the dog. Warning: Graphic content.

A six-month-old blue staffy puppy had to be euthanised after police allege a man deliberately set it on fire at a property in Sydney’s south west.

Jiman Yeon, 39, has been charged with aggravated cruelty upon an animal, and damage property by fire after emergency crews rushed to his Wogna Rd unit at Lurnea just after 3.20am Friday.

Fire and Rescue NSW put out the blaze which caused significant damage to the unit.

Police allege a six-month-old puppy was found in a cage on the balcony with severe burns and claim Mr Yeon intentionally set fire to the dog. No other injuries were reported.

Mr Yeon first appeared in court just hours after his arrest on Friday, with lawyers again reappearing for him on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old’s mother sat at the back of the court with her face covered by a scarf as Mr Yeon continues to deny she is his biological mother, the court heard.

His lawyer told the court he was “extremely unwell” and suffers from schizophrenia.

A six-month-old blue staffy puppy was allegedly killed in a fire. (File image)

“He has become distressed as he has not been taking his medications while in custody,” she said.

A bail application had not been made as lawyers are hoping Mr Yeon gets proper care in the custodial environment.

During his appearance in court on Friday, he wore just a singlet, shorts and no shoes. His mother and a family friend supported him in the public gallery.

The court heard his “mental health” was not great but Mr Yeon yelled over lawyers from the dock.

“He thinks he has the right to euthanise the dog,” a lawyer told the court on Friday.

Mr Yeon exclaimed to the court he had no idea who the man was representing him.

“These are none of my lawyers … I have a different woman,” he yelled to Magistrate Phillip Stewart.

“This is some kind of set up.”

Mr Yeon continued on a rant saying the lawyers had not tried listening to him when they consulted in the cells below the court.

“That woman isn’t even my biological mother, who is she?” he said.

Mr Yeon told the court he had tried to find ways to put the “beautiful perfect blue staffy” down himself and had spoken to both the RSPCA and police.

“I went to RSPCA for the right procedure for euthanasia, the police should have given me more information on how to do euthanasia to put him down,” he said.

“I tried to give my puppy sleeping tablets and it didn’t work.”

He insisted he had safely set up a way to set fire to the puppy but the fire accidentally spread to the rest of his unit, the court heard.

“I knew what I was doing because I had permission from police.”

Magistrate Stewart tried to ask Mr Yeon questions about the incident but none of his questions were answered directly.

When asked whether he could read English, Mr Yeon replied saying he wanted a drink of water.