Owner of Melbourne floating bar destroyed in firebomb attack speaks out about new court battle as arsonist is jailed

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 16:18, 2 July 2026 | Updated: 16:18, 2 July 2026 An arsonist who burned a floating nightclub to the ground has been sentenced to jail as another legal battle for the venue continues. Jemli Williams Mariner, 34, was sentenced in County Court on Thursday to 18 months behind bars following the arson attack in central Melbourne on January 31, 2023. On top of the jail time, Mariner will be subject to a two-year community correction order. The floating nightclub, ATET, was set alight on the Yarra River by Mariner and a mystery accomplice about 4.20am. Mariner was found guilty of arson in February but has refused to reveal the identity of the other arsonist. ATET owner Jake Hughes told reporters outside the court that police 'believed all along that it was a paid job' but hadn't solved who was behind the attack. 'We would like to know what's behind it all,' Mr Hughes said, the Herald Sun reported. 'Especially because (he has) no connection to the venue.' ATET owner Jake Hughes (above) said the sentencing gave a 'sense of closure' but he still faces an ongoing legal battle with the Melbourne council The judge described Mariner's (above) actions as 'brazen' and 'hapless' A second person involved in the arson attack (above) has not been identified But while the sentence brought a 'sense of closure' to Mr Hughes, the nightclub owner is still in the throngs of another legal battle. Mr Hughes, who spent five years and more than $2million building ATET before its grand opening in October 2022, is fighting the City of Melbourne council for his operating licence. The nightclub triggered a large wave of community complaints so the council revoked its licence in June 2023. ATET had reopened a fortnight after Mariner and his accomplice set it alight, but the revoked licence meant it could no longer open. Mr Hughes launched legal action against the council in December 2023 and the case remains before the Supreme Court. The verdict is due in August if the City of Melbourne and Mr Hughes cannot reach a settlement. Mr Hughes plans to reopen ATET pending the outcome.  Judge David Sexton on Thursday found the arson attack on ATET was 'not random, impulsive offending'. Jemli Williams Mariner was sentenced over the firebombing of ATET nightclub (above) on Thursday The bar is pictured after the blaze which caused widespread damage Mr Hughes in April told the court the firebombing saw his life 'turned upside down' and his dreams 'turned to ash'.  'Seeing something that we had poured our heart and soul into for such a long time lying in a smouldering mess was heartbreaking,' he said. 'We had devoted over five years of our lives to creating this space. We built it with our own hands, with family and friends, with my dad in his sixties doing long days of physical labour.' The business owner added that he still lives in fear of another arson attack. 'We did not know who or what was behind it, but it seemed clear that it was a targeted, planned attack, and that there may well be a level of organised crime involved,' he said. 'It was incredibly unsettling not knowing what these people might be capable of, or what they might try next. If they were willing to burn down a venue so brazenly, I feared that I, or my family, could be targeted personally. 'To this day, it is still difficult living with the knowledge that someone would attempt to destroy everything we had worked so hard for, and ultimately bankrupt us, without ever knowing what the true motive was behind the attack.' Mariner will be required to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service as part of his sentence. He also faces visa cancellation and deportation as he is a New Zealand citizen, not Australian.  Judge Sexton described Mariner's actions as 'brazen' and 'hapless'. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.