Revesby man Thanh Ho pleads not guilty to alleged years-long arson campaign
A western Sydney man’s years-long ‘vendetta’ over alleged stolen money is to blame for repeated molotov cocktail attacks on multiple cars and property, a court has heard.
The Express
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A western Sydney man who allegedly damaged four separate cars in a series of frightening arson attacks was pursuing a “vendetta” against a person known to him, a court has heard.
Thanh Ho, 43, of Revesby, pleaded not guilty to six counts of damaging property worth less than $2000 by fire spanning over a three-year period at Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday.
Beginning in May 2019, police allege Ho used molotov cocktails to damage four separate vehicles owned by the victim in Bankstown, including in January 2020 and December 2022.
Shortly after midnight on April 19, Ho allegedly also set fire to the wall of a property on Pringle Ave, belonging to the victim. In October, he allegedly returned for a second attack.
Magistrate Glen Walsh told the court police believed the incidents were a “concerted attack” by Ho against a person he “had a prior relationship with” over money allegedly owed to him.
Opposing Ho’s potential release, a police prosecutor said detectives had a “strong circumstantial” case, including DNA evidence on Heineken bottles used in the attacks.
CCTV footage of four of the arson attacks also revealed balaclavas and clothing items used by the attacker, which police claim were similar to what was located by police in Ho’s home.
The 43-year-old’s lawyer told Bankstown court on Tuesday Ho had been living with “serious” schizophrenia, and attempted to have his charges dealt with under the Mental Health Act.
Ho’s lawyer tendered a treatment plan for Ho to follow on release, but was rebuffed by Magistrate Walsh who revealed Ho was already being treated at the time of attacks.
Magistrate Walsh told the court Ho had been undergoing mental health treatment for a period of at least two years, with two of the alleged arson attacks taking place during that time.
Ho will reappear before Bankstown Local Court later this year.
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