Paul Zaidan admitted his involvement in the kidnapping of the president of the Chez Cora restaurants and demanded a ransom of $11 million outside the Laval courthouse on Friday. He was sentenced to two years house arrest.
Posted at 1:59 p.m
The fact that he pleaded guilty before Quebec Superior Court Judge François Dadour avoids holding a second trial. The first was canceled in February 2022 because the jury could not agree on a verdict.
According to a joint statement of the facts, three people presented themselves in Nicholas Tsouflidis’ apartment on March 8, 2017. “The victim was kidnapped by three kidnappers. [Elle] being transported in the trunk of a vehicle she identifies as a Volvo, her hands bound with zip ties [tie-wrap]. While in the trunk of the vehicle the victim [fait] an emergency call indicating that she has just been kidnapped,” says the joint statement of the facts.
Nicholas Tsouflidis is taken to an apartment in Laval rented by Paul Zaidan under a false identity. He is taken to the basement of the house and tied up with chains, PVC cables and zip ties. He is monitored with a baby monitor.
On March 9, 2017, the victim’s mother received a call from a man asking her to come to the victim’s home. There, the police discover an $11 million ransom note on a kitchen counter. The letter notes that bank transfers to an email address created by Paul Zaidan a few days earlier must be confirmed.
At around 6am the President of Chez Cora was released along a country road in Laval by masked men. “The victim then has his wrists bound with wide tape, tape is also around his head and he has his pants on his ankles. The victim is rescued by passers-by,” the joint statement of the facts continues.
Paul Zaidan admitted to obtaining a baby monitor, chains, padlocks, PVC cables, zip ties and zip ties in the days leading up to the kidnapping. He was also the one who rented the Volvo that was used to kidnap Nicholas Tsouflidis.
After pleading guilty, Judge François Dadour asked 54-year-old Paul Zaidan if he would like to speak. He refused.
“In the case of Mr. Zaidan, I note that the facts are serious, but that the agreed statement of facts does not portray him as a key player in the case […] Finally, his guilty plea spares Mr. Tsouflidis from retesting and the company from a second jury trial,” Justice Dadour said before confirming the verdict proposed by the two parties.
Breakfast restaurants Chez Cora responded to the announcement of Paul Zaidan’s guilt in a press release.
“My family and I are relieved that this trial is over, reassured that the defendant has pleaded guilty and happy to finally put this ordeal behind us,” said Nicolas Tsouflidis.
His mother and founder of the restaurant chain, Cora Tsouflidou, also said she could finally “turn to the future”. “I’m glad this difficult story is behind us,” she said.