A Giralang man who doused the inside of a southside restaurant with petrol had grown desperate amid an alleged dispute with a collapsed Canberra construction company over unpaid debts, a court has heard.
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Gyu Seon Park, 40, is accused of pouring petrol on the floor and over furniture and at diners' feet at Kusina restaurant at Weston on Wednesday afternoon.
Police said they were called to the restaurant following reports a man had emptied a can of fuel and threatened to set it alight about 5pm.
Two witnesses restrained the man until officers arrived and arrested Park.
He was denied bail when he faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with acts endangering life.
Court documents allege Park worked as a tiler for Sublime Constructions, owned by Dee Vong Sisomphou and Minh Phan, between 2010 and 2012.
A dispute allegedly arose with Mr Sisomphou when he refused to pay the accused for $60,000 worth of work he claimed was faulty.
Park took the matter to court but was forced to drop the legal challenge when he ran out of money.
He later apologised and had allegedly made repeated attempts to contact Mr Sisomphou in recent weeks.
The pair arranged to meet for lunch on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Park allegedly asked Mr Sisomphou for money but was told Mr Sisomphou didn't have anything to give him.
Mr Sisomphou later told police Park appeared stressed and miserable and had "a look of desperation about him".
Mr Sisomphou left the restaurant but soon after returned to watch from down the street as he said he was worried something might happen.
He went back inside the restaurant after he saw three girls run out the door.
When he walked inside, he smelled petrol and saw Park being held back by two men.
Witnesses allege the accused left the restaurant after Mr Sisomphou paid the bill and returned a short time later with a six-litre tin of fuel.
Police were called after Park allegedly started to pour the petrol around the seating area, counter and the feet of two diners and threatened to set it alight.
Park later told police he had bought the petrol for his lawnmower.
Prosecutors opposed bail on grounds Park was likely to harass or intimidate witnesses.
They also cited concerns Park could attempt to harm himself or others.
The incident appeared to be pre-meditated and showed little regard for safety, they argued.
Park's defence lawyer Hugh Jorgensen said the incident was "unnerving" and prompted by Park's desperate need to communicate with Mr Sisomphou.
The court heard Park was living in his car, had financial problems and was actively seeking more contract work for his business.
Mr Jorgensen said the accused had not meant to harm anyone and was only prompted to act when the pair's conversation "turned sour".
He said a Korean interpreter would be required for future court appearances.
Magistrate Bernadette Boss noted Park had gone to "quite bizarre lengths" to get his point across to Mr Sisomphou.
She was concerned any bail conditions would not be enough to prevent him from contacting or harming witnesses.
Park was remanded in custody and will next face court on September 25.