Developer Steve Nassif one of two charged over $24m Northwood house fire

Prominent property developer Steve Nassif and another man have been arrested over a blaze that destroyed a $24 million heritage mansion.

Two men will face court after being charged in relation to the blaze that tore through a multimillion dollar mansion in Sydney‘s Lower North Shore earlier this year.

Prominent property developer Steve Nassif is one of two men who have been charged over the fire that destroyed a $24 million heritage mansion on Sydney’s lower north shore earlier this year.

Nassif, 69, and a 20-year-old man will face court on Thursday after being charged with destroying or damaging property in company by means of fire or explosive.

Arson Squad detectives with Strike Force Lenghwise arrested Nassif on Wednesday at his home at Wentworth Falls and police will allege he had business links to the owner of the mansion, fund managerand property developer Ouyang “Owen” Chen.

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

Developer Steve Nassif has been arrested over a fire at a $24m Northwood mansion.

Police will allege that a second man, 20, arrested on Wednesday at Punchbowl lit the blaze and was captured fleeing on CCTV.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Puffett said that one of the suspects lit the fire while the other drove to and from the house at Northwood which went up in flames on September 3 this year while a third man, who has not yet been arrested, was also allegedly involved.

“We believe both men were involved in the ignition of that fire,” Detective Chief Inspector Puffett said on Wednesday.

“We believe the two alleged men acted alone in the ignition of that fire, but we believe at least one other was involved in the organisation of it.”

The mansion was destroyed in a suspected arson attack. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The officer said the information from the public after the recent release of images of Toyota HiAce van had contributed to the arrest of one of the males.

During the search of the Wentworth Falls home, a vehicle was seized and the 69-year-old man arrested and taken to Katoomba Police Station where he is expected to be charged with arson.

A short time later in Punchbowl, the 20-year-old man was arrested and taken to Campsie Police Station where he is also expected to be charged with arson.

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.

The blaze engulfed the home. Picture: Supplied

FRNSW sniffer dogs found an accelerant at the property. Picture: John Feder

Following the blaze, a crime scene was established and examined by specialist forensic officers from Strike Force Lenghwise.

FRNSW sniffer dogs found an accelerant at the property.

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

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.

The planning panel said it found revisions to the proposal including a reduction in the overall height of the home had “effectively addressed the grounds for the original refusal”.

A council spokesman said at the time that the fire had no impact on the assessment of the development.

Police have been in contact with Mr Chen, and there is no suggestion Mr Chen or his wife Xiao Hong Li have been accused of any wrongdoing.