Hussein Kassem sentenced in County Court over $250k Crown Casino molotov cocktail attack

A man who caused almost $250k damage to a Crown Casino restaurant after he hurled a molotov cocktail made from a bottle of Jack Daniels through a window has learnt his fate in court.

Hussein Kassem was sentenced in the County Court after throwing a molotov cocktail into a Crown Casino restaurant. Picture: Ian Currie

A man who denied throwing a molotov cocktail into a Crown Casino restaurant causing $250,000 was in retaliation for being banned has avoided prison time.

Hussein Kassem, 40, was sentenced to a three year therapeutic corrections order in the County Court on December 6 having earlier pleaded guilty to charges of arson and reckless conduct where he claimed a lapse in taking his medication caused him to experience a psychotic episode, which influenced his criminal activity.

Judge Sarah Dawes also ordered 177 days imprisonment be recognised as time already served.

Judge Dawes said she accepted the psychiatric report tendered to the court, noting Kassem’s offending was not due to the ban he had received from Crown just weeks prior.

“At the time of the offending the full extent of your psychiatric condition was unclear,” she said.

“However, your actions were unlikely to be an act of revenge, but rather a bizarre act of desperation while in a severely psychotic state.”

Police and Crown Casino security were on scene along Crown Promenade, where the molotov cocktail was thrown through the window of Bistro Guillaume. Picture: Ian Currie

The court heard Kassem first lit a fire in the men’s bathrooms in the reception of Crown Casino, before leaving to collect a bottle of Jack Daniels whisky from his Southbank apartment and returned to light Bistro Guillaume on fire.

Kassem threw the bottle of whisky against a window in the alfresco dining area of the restaurant, before picking the bottle up, shoving his T-shirt inside and attempting to light it on fire.

After trying for seven minutes, he eventually lit an artificial vine connected to the outside dining area on fire, leading to the significant blaze and extensive damage, which was all caught on CCTV.

The court heard the cost of the damages caused by the fire added up to $241,611.18.

Crown Promenade had to be closed off to the public after the blaze caused significant damage to the venue. Picture: Ian Currie

The court heard Kassem had not been taking medication for schizophrenia at the time, as the dosage had been making him feel nauseous.

The psychiatric report read to the court said Kassem would have been experiencing symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, disorganisation of thoughts and changes to his speech patterns and behaviour.

Judge Dawes told the court she believed Kassem’s mental health would have been significantly and adversely impacted by more time behind bars.

“I accept you have remorse for your misconduct, consistent with your guilty plea,” she said.

“You have complied with treatment to manage your mental health issues and your strict bail conditions have been of considerable punishment.”

Judge Dawes said there was “no doubt” Kassem was unwell at the time of the attack, and that he would benefit from ongoing psychiatric treatment.