Sydney Apartment Where Saudi Sisters Died Listed for Rent with Significant Price Increase
A two-bedroom apartment in Sydney's south-west, where the naked bodies of two Saudi sisters were discovered nearly four years ago, has been relisted for rent with a substantial weekly increase of $210. The 82-square-metre unit on Canterbury Road is now advertised at $690 per week, up from the $480 the sisters were paying when their remains were found in June 2022.
Grim Discovery and Investigation Details
Investigators believe that Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, died by consuming a 'suicide drink' that can be purchased on the dark web. The sisters had fled Saudi Arabia in 2017 with only $5,000 and were seeking asylum in Australia at the time of their deaths. Their bodies were not discovered for at least a month after they died in separate rooms of the first-floor unit.
When the apartment was listed for rent on February 2, the initial advertisement made no mention of its tragic history. However, after inquiries from the Daily Mail, the real estate agent added a 'material fact' disclosure statement. The listing now states: 'This property has found two deceased persons on 07/06/2022, crime scene has been established and it is still under police investigation.' It also notes that police have indicated this is not a random crime and poses no potential risk to the community.
Legal Obligations and Rental Market Context
In New South Wales, real estate agents must disclose if a property has been the site of a murder or manslaughter within the past five years. However, as the cause of the Alsehli sisters' deaths has not been formally established, this obligation may not strictly apply. The current rental price of $690 is below Sydney's median unit rental price of $760 for January, but the increase represents a rise of almost 44%, aligning with average rental hikes in the city since mid-2022.
The advertisement describes the unit as featuring 'open-plan living spaces designed for relaxation, with spacious balconies that enhance natural light and airflow' and promotes a lifestyle of 'seamless luxury and comfort' with contemporary architecture and landscaped gardens.
Background of the Sisters and Ongoing Investigation
The sisters had applied for protection visas, citing atheism and lesbianism as reasons for seeking asylum, both of which are forbidden in Saudi Arabia. Police conducted welfare checks in the months before their deaths, and sheriff's officers found their bodies during an eviction on June 7, 2022. The coronial investigation has been transferred to the Crown Solicitor's Office due to its complexity, with a review conducted on February 9, but no hearing date has been set.
Toxicology reports showed unusual levels of sodium, nitrate, and fluoride in the apartment. The sisters had received a final payment from family in Saudi Arabia in February 2022, after which they appeared to remain isolated in the flat until their deaths. This case bears similarities to another involving two Saudi sisters found dead in New York in 2018, which was ruled a suicide pact.
The bodies of Asra and Amaal Alsehli were returned to Saudi Arabia in August 2022. For confidential crisis support, individuals can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
