A few hours before a commercial building in Welshpool was set alight causing $15 million in damage, its Perth property tycoon owner was caught on video telling another man “tonight is the night,” a court has heard.
Hossean Pourzand has been arrested in his luxury West Perth apartment in Mount Street on Tuesday on charges of criminal damage and insurance fraud. The 63-year-old property developer was released on bail by the Perth Magistrates Court on strict conditions.
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Pourzand has been accused of meeting up with alleged arsonist Iman Rahimi, 31, a couple of times in Osborne Park days before the March 14 fire, to “counsel” the latter to set the big building ablaze,
Perth Now reported.
On their second meeting, the day of the fire, the property developer was filmed saying he could not afford refurbishments for the vacant warehouse and factory on Pilbara Street in Welshpool and wanted the insurance claim to cover for them.
The next day, prosecutors said Pourzand filed an insurance claim for $12 million and $15 million.
During the hearing before Magistrate Edward de Vries, Pourzand did not enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his name. He also did not comment once outside the court, the report said.
Despite arguments that Pourzand’s wealth made him a flight risk, the property developer was granted bail by the court due to his poor health.
De Vries set the bail at $150,000, with a $150,000 surety, and conditions that Pourzand report each weekday to police in person and not contact Rahimi,
Perth Now said.
Rahimi, meanwhile, was charged with criminal damage by fire and faced Stirling Gardens Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. He had his bail renewed on the same conditions to appear before the court next week, the report said.
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