In September 2022, Lane Cove locals were shocked when they heard the news that a historic house at 62 Cliff Road Northwood was the possible target of an arson attack.
The Rossi Family purchased the property back in 1961 for £16,000 on the recommendation of artist friend Lloyd Rees.
In November 2009, Lane Cove Council commissioned a heritage report of homes in the Lane Cove Council Area. In the report, it was recommended that 62 Cliff Road be included in the Lane Cove LEP as a heritage item. The report stated:
“62 Cliff Road – Federation dwelling Number 62 is historically significant as one of the earliest built on the Northwood Estate auctioned in 1904. The dwelling has been sympathetically altered to include garages and the addition of stone wall to Cliff Rd. It has landmark qualities and contributes to the streetscape of Cliff Rd.”
In November 2021, Y F Chen purchased the house for more than $24 million. The next-door neighbours are fund manager Ouyang Chen and his wife Xiao Hong Li.
In the Cove has put together a timeline from the night of the fire (3 September 2022) until Steve Nassiff and Adam Kipkosgei Bett were sentenced to jail time last week (16 August 2024).
3 September 2022 – Fire
At around 10.50 pm on 3 September 2022, sirens could be heard throughout Lane Cove as fire crews responded to a fire at 62 Cliff Road Northwood. Over thirty calls were made to Triple 000, alerting NSW Fire and Rescue to the blaze.
More than 50 firefighters took just under an hour to control the fire which had engulfed the home, causing the roof and other parts of the home to collapse.
5 September 2022 – Police Start Looking for CCTV
On Monday morning, the police started door-knocking neighbours to find CCTV footage.
12 September 2022 – CCTV Footage Released by Police
29 November 2022 – Additional CCTV Footage Released by Police
14 December, 2022
A search warrant was executed at a home in Wentworth Falls following extensive inquiries and multiple appeals. During the search, a vehicle was seized, and Steve Nassif was arrested before being taken to Katoomba Police Station.
A short time later, Adam Kipkosgei Bett was arrested at his home in Punchbowl and taken to Campsie Police Station.
12 January, 2023
Steve Nassif, pleads not guilty to destroying the historic home by arson at the Campbelltown Local Court. NSW police allege that Mr Nassif has business links to the owner of the neighbouring Northwood home, fund manager and property tycoon Ouyang “Owen” Chen, who is not accused of any wrongdoing.
8 September, 2023
The owner of 62 Cliff Rd lodged a DA to demolish the burnt-out building.
21 February 2024
The Lane Cove Local Planning Panel rejects the development application to demolish the burnt-out building.
18 April 2024
Steve Nassif pleads guilty and is taken into custody. Nassif’s counsel stated there was “no apparent motive” for a crime with a maximum penalty of 10 years. Having no criminal history and as a man in his 70s, Magistrate Miranda Moody said there was a possibility Nassif would receive a sentence that could be served in the community rather than behind bars.
The co-accused, Adams Kipkosgei Bett had already pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly damaging property by fire.
16 August 2024
Steve Nassif was sentenced to 2 years and seven months in prison (the maximum penalty is ten years). He was given a non-parole period of one year and four months, expiring in December 2025.
He was taken into custody in court in front of his family and other supporters.
Adams Kipkosgei Bett was sentenced to 2 years and three months in jail with a non-parole period of one year and eight months. But with time served, he is already eligible for parole.
Both received a 25 per cent reduction on sentence for their guilty pleas.
According to the agreed statement of facts, Steve Nassif drove a silver HiAce van to Cliff Road Northwood, after stopping to pick up the co- accused. They had purchased 36 litres of petrol in a jerry can.
Adams Kipkosgei Bett used the petrol in the jerry can to light the fire, while Steve Nassif stayed in the van. This was not the first time the two had thought about torching the house. There was as an earlier aborted attempt to set the home alight, however Bett changed his mind.
Distict Court Judge Grant Brady noted:
“There is no doubt that those with homes near the blaze would have been terrified hearing and seeing it. There is also no doubt the first responders were at real risk in their efforts to put out the fire. The potential risk of injury and the possible spread of the fire, themselves, leads to the conclusion that this offence was a serious example of this type of offence.”
Judge Brady cited the following mitigating factors: no clear motive, no previous custody, Nassif’s age (70 years old), and good prospects for rehabilitation and remorse had been shown.
He said it was an “unusual case,” that it was “an impulsive or reasonably impulsive act” and that he found it “difficult to understand the motive” as there was no insurance policy on the property.
Although Brady found no real motive in the evidence, he remarked that it did not “mitigate against the offending, rather, that it doesn’t aggravate it.”
He also could not find evidence that this crime was committed for financial reward.
The judge also took into account mental health issues and “compelling” subjective circumstances.
The judge also said it was “its own tragedy to send a 70-year-old man with an unblemished record to jail”.
The judge also took into account that Adams Kipkosgei Bett now had increased awareness of his mental health issues, including PTSD from living in Kenya, and has taken “numerous steps” in custody to better himself.
60 Cliff Road Northwood – Development Applications History
A Development Application was lodged for 60 Cliff Road Northwood in 2021 and the DA was refused by the Local Planning Panel in October 2021.
There were 26 reasons for the refusal of the Development Application including the impact on 62 Cliff Road. Read the full Local Planning Panel decision here.
On 20 September 2022, the Lane Cove Council recommended to the Local Planning Panel that a new DA for 60 Cliff Road be approved. The Local Planning Panel agreed with the Lane Cove Council’s recommendation and the DA was approved. You can read the Lane Cove Council Local Planning Panel decision here.
In the Cove is making NO suggestion that the Development Application for 60 Cliff Road and the Arson were linked. Mr Chen has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
