Sayed Moosawi claimed $12k payment over Bondi arson attack, court documents allege

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5 days ago

A man claimed he was set to receive $12,000 for directing an arson attack on a Jewish business in Sydney's east last year, court documents allege.
Sayed Moosawi has pleaded not guilty to directing a criminal group and directing planning over the arson attacks on the Curly Lewis Brewery and Lewis' Continental Kitchen at Bondi Beach in October.
Documents detailing the crown prosecution's case against the 32-year-old can be revealed after he successfully applied for his release on bail last week.
According to the documents released by the NSW Supreme Court, the crown will allege Mr Moosawi used the username 'James Bond' on encrypted messaging platform Signal when he texted "I got something good lined up" to an associate on September 30, 2024.
It is alleged the associate and a co-accused travelled to the Curley Lewis Brewer in Bondi on October 15 with their faces covered and carrying suspicious objects when a member of the public spotted them and called triple-0.
The court documents allege the two men were "spooked" and fled the scene, which prompted a string of angry text messages from Mr Moosawi.
"Use both fail the test can't do one small thing," Mr Moosawi allegedly wrote.
He also allegedly texted "make me look stupid front of my mate" referring to an unknown identity.
Both two men remain before the courts and are yet to enter pleas.
A day later, the men, along with Craig Bantoft and Guy Finnegan, allegedly met up with Mr Moosawi at Villawood Hotel, where they were allegedly offered $4,000 to set fire to a premises in Bondi.
It is alleged Mr Moosawi advised that he was receiving $12,000 for this job.
According to the crown bundle, there was "some confusion" around the location of the business, and it is believed when one of the men mentioned an address, he was referring to the Lewis' Continental Kitchen, a kosher deli on the corner of Curlewis Street in Bondi.
But in the early hours of October 17, the document states that Finnegan looked up the directions to Curly Lewis Brewing Co, a business with no ties to the Jewish faith or community.
That same morning, Finnegan and Bantoft set fire to the front door of the brewery, which was quickly extinguished by the sprinkler system.
Later that day, Mr Moosawi allegedly sent a message to Finnegan saying, "use f***** the whole thing now".
After this, Finnegan and Bantoft then allegedly exchanged text messages where they discussed where the wrong location had been damaged, with Finnegan writing, "I'm starting to think he has sent us to the wrong place lol".
­Bantoft and Finnegan have both pleaded guilty to setting fire to the brewery, with Finnegan sentenced to 10 months in jail earlier this year.
The crown bundle alleges Mr Moosawi was in contact with a different associate before the associate attended the Lewis' Continental Kitchen on October 20.
The associate allegedly broke into the business and set the kitchen on fire, causing an estimated $1 million in damage before fleeing the scene in a stolen car.
Mr Moosawi was arrested on January 10 by Strike Force Pearl detectives, who were tasked with investigating a string of antisemitic attacks in Sydney in late 2024 and earlier this year.
His arrest was one of 14 at the time.
Mr Moosawi is currently on strict bail after he offered up his house and $2 million if he breaches his bail.
During his bail application in the NSW Supreme Court last Tuesday, Mr Moosawi's barrister described the crown's case as "highly contestable" and said police had provided no clear evidence that her client directed the men to the properties in Bondi.