Bourham Hraichie: Wiley Park man allegedly attempted to burn down townhouse

A man accused of attempting to burn down a house with two teenagers was allegedly motivated by a financial dispute, a court has heard.

A Wiley Park man who allegedly attempted to burn down a home with two teenagers inside was allegedly motivated by a financial dispute, a court has heard.

Bourham Hraichie, 69, appeared on videolink at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday, charged with intentionally or recklessly destroying property or damaging property with intent to endanger life DV related.

Police allege between 1.30am and 2am on September 23, Hraichie arrived at the home and started the fire, with the intention to endanger the life of the two teenage residents, a male and female, aged 17 and 19 respectively.

His lawyer Ehab Ghabach told the court Hraichie had a series of mental and physical health issues, including having been prescribed the highest-dose antipsychotics for treatment of schizophrenia.

Additionally, Hraichie had several toes amputated, an extreme level of diabetes, three knee reconstruction surgeries, and significant heart problems.

A still of CCTV vision released by police as part of an appeal into a suspicious house fire at Ogmore Cct, Bankstown in September 2022.

CCTV footage captured from a nearby home around the time of the alleged offence shows a man walking with a distinctive limp, wearing items of clothing similar to those found at Hraichie’s home in a subsequent search by police, the court heard.

Mr Ghabach told the court Hraichie went to hospital on the night of the alleged offences, after suffering from a panic attack, and had been moved between the police station and hospital since, prior to being placed in custody.

He said the man had significant community ties, which had assisted police after the alleged incident, and requested his client be scheduled under a mental health provision if his bail application was denied.

“Jails cannot cater for him, he needs an immense amount of care,” Mr Ghabach said.

Fire and Rescue NSW battled a blaze at a Bankstown townhouse on Ogmore Circuit just before 2am on September 23, 2022. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

Magistrate Glenn Walsh told the court the prosecution case appeared strong, including an admission from one of the alleged victims she was indebted because of a theft by Hraichie.

“Steps have been taken to reach settlement,” Mr Walsh said. “Those can be inferred not to have satisfied the applicant for release”.

He said the home Hraichie allegedly intended to burn down was known as a place where his relative lived.

“I have no doubt he has had schizophrenia in the past, been treated, and a plethora of physical ailments,” Mr Walsh said.

But, he added, there was no evidence any of his health issues could not be treated in custody.

Mr Walsh denied both the bail application, and an application to have Hraichie scheduled for a mental health assessment.

The Wiley Park man is scheduled to return to court on November 24.