Northwood house fire: Steve Nassif, Adams Betts charges with destroying property

The relationship between a prominent property developer, charged in relation to a blaze which tore through a heritage mansion, and the mansion’s owner has been revealed in court.

The property Nasiff is alleged to have firebombed at 60 Cliff Rd in Northwood. Picture: Jonathan Ng. Picture: Jonathan Ng

A prominent property developer charged in relation to a blaze which tore through a multimillion-dollar heritage mansion in Sydney’s north shore had been fishing and hunting with the owner, a court has heard.

Developer Steve Nassif, 68, and 20-year-old Adams Kipkosgei Bett were arrested on Wednesday and charged with destroying or damaging property by means of fire in relation to the blaze in September.

A bail application at Penrith Local Court on Thursday heard of Nassif’s ties with the owner of the Northwood property, fund manager and property developer Ouyang “Owen” Chen, with the pair said to have previously fished and gone hunting together.

There’s no suggestion of wrongdoing by Mr Chen, who bought the house last year for $24.1m. He also owned the house next door which he bought in 2007 for $5.6m.

The property Nasiff is alleged to have firebombed at 60 Cliff Rd in Northwood. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The Sydney waterfront mansion, which boasted spectacular views, was built in 1915 and was previously owned by television pioneer Mary Rossi until she died at the age of 95.

Mr Chen’s $5m development application to knockdown and rebuild his home next door at 60 Cliff Road, Northwood, had earlier been knocked back by Lane Cove Council.

Owen Chen lodged plans for 60 Cliff Rd to Lane Cove Council. Photo: John Grainger

Later in September, the council gave the go-ahead to the development which includes nine bedrooms, a games room, outdoor entertainment areas, a swimming pool, spa and bar. The proposal had originally been refused due to “unacceptable impacts” on the heritage home at 62 Cliff Road.

Nassif told police when interviewed he had previously conducted business with Chen.

Developer Steve Nassif was arrested over the fire at a $24m Northwood mansion.

The property developer’s legal team, consisting of barrister Anthony Strick and Mark Dennis SC, successfully applied for bail which came with the conditions of a $400,000 surety, daily reporting to police and a nightly curfew.

When arguing for bail, the court heard Nassif’s son was a director and stakeholder of a “particular company” and had access to properties which could be mortgaged to the Crown.

Nassif was also willing to offer up the combined mortgages of his properties equalling to $1.5m

The home at 62 Cliff Rd was destroyed by fire in September. Photo: supplied

Police prosecutor Leon Payne argued there was a strong case against Nassif, submitting there were no bail conditions which could remove the risk of him fleeing or tampering with evidence.

“The accused has access to significant amounts of money,” he said.

Bett, of Punchbowl, appeared in Bankstown Local Court on Thursday on the charge of intentionally destroying property belonging to another person by means of fire, while in the company of Steve Nassif.

Police will allege the 20-year-old lit the blaze and was captured on CCTV.

He did not apply for bail, with the matter to return to the same court in January.