Anthony Yoon Sun Soong smashed window and light bulb after prison fire

The disgruntled former lover convicted of attempted murder broke a window in his prison cell because his next-door neighbour had lit his cell on fire.

Anthony Soong was convicted of Photo: Supplied.

THE disgruntled former lover convicted of attempted murder broke a window in his prison cell because his next-door neighbour had lit his cell on fire.

Anthony Yoon Sun Soong also smashed a light bulb during the incident in the Capricornia Correctional Centre in Rockhampton on January 12 this year.

Soong pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday to wilful damage.

He is serving a 13-year prison term for the shooting of former Big Brother contestant Sam Wallace at a Merrimac restaurant car park in 2015.

Soong peppered Mr Wallace’s car with bullets, wounding Mr Wallace in the thigh.

On the day of the shooting, Soong (pictured) assaulted his former partner Jhai Saric after a string of calls went unanswered and he became aware that she had become “acquainted” with Joshua Milani.

An irate Soong contacted Mr Milani, threatened to kill him and demanded they meet, according to court documents. Mr Milani agreed and they met at a restaurant carpark at Merrimac. He was driven by friend and roommate Mr Wallace.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Pam Rhodes said about 6.50pm on January 12, prison officers heard Soong and the prisoner in the cell next door talking.

Both prisoners had covered their CCTV cameras and were blocking the viewing window.

The court was told Soong neighbour set his cell on fire.

“The prison officer could hear things being smashed inside,” Sen Const Rhodes said.

She said flames were seen and the prison sprinkler system deployed.

The court was told when the doors were opened, Soong was abusive and threatened staff.

Soong has smashed the window and light globe causing $1451 in damage.

Defence lawyer Michael Gatenby, of Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, said Soon had not lit anything on fire.

“He instructs: ‘I had to smash the window so I didn’t asphyxiate’,” he said.

Mr Gatenby said Soong was having a “dreadful” time in custody and had spent four months in a lockdown unit.

He said during that time in the unit Soong had rarely left the cell.

Acting Magistrate Mark Bamberry fined Soong $1451 which he ordered to be paid to cover the damages.

Soong is not eligible for parole on the attempted murder charge until 2026.