At the jury trial of Paul Zaidan, accused of having kidnapped him, Nicholas Tsouflidis, president of the restaurant chain Chez Cora, had to answer several questions about text messages that he recently sent to police officers. Quebec, in which he insults them and complains of being a “victim of the legal system”.
“Shit bro!” “,” You will burn, fuck you! “,” You are not good, the system is not good! “,” You are weak! »,« The worst thing is to lie! Here are some of the messages Nicholas Tsouflidis admitted to sending to the police as he was cross-examined on Wednesday by the accused’s lawyer, Mr.e Hovsep Dadaghalian.
Mr. Tsouflidis blamed these messages on anger.
“When you are not told what you want to know, do you become insulting and arrogant? “Asked Me Dadaghalian.
The legal process is long, arduous and difficult, especially when you are a victim and a witness and you are not entitled to any information, it is frustrating.
Nicholas Tsouflidis, to justify his insults
His frustration stems in particular from the fact that only one man was accused in this case, while the kidnappers were at least three, he explained.
PHOTO IVANOH DEMERS, PRESS ARCHIVES
Nicholas Tsouflidis and his mother, Cora Tsouflidou
Alleged kidnapping
Paul Zaidan, 52, ex-franchisee of Chez Cora, is accused of having orchestrated the kidnapping and kidnapping of Nicholas Tsouflidis on March 8, 2017, and of having tried to extort his mother, Cora Tsouflidou, founder of the restaurant chain.
During the first day of the trial, Tuesday at the Laval courthouse, Nicholas Tsouflidis recounted how the event unfolded, while he was questioned by the Crown prosecutor, Mr.e Sarah Beaudry-Leclerc. Wednesday it was M’s turne Hovsep Dadaghalian to cross-examine him, by trying to bring out certain contradictions in his remarks and by referring to events as “the alleged kidnapping”.
Me Dadaghalian was particularly interested in the functioning of the family business and the sums that were paid to Cora Tsouflidou’s three children.
Before the kidnapping, it was reportedly agreed to pay each of the children $ 200,000, but the eldest, Theoharis Tsouflidis, would only have received $ 50,000 in the end, the lawyer suggested.
I am not aware. It was a decision of my mother. It’s possible.
Nicholas Tsouflidis
Variable amounts were paid to siblings in some years when the business was going well, but he said he did not remember the details of these payments.
Me Dadaghalian also questioned the witness about his links with his brother, who returned to Quebec in 2016 after several years in Greece. The president of Chez Cora explained that he refused to give her a job with the company, saying Theoharis Tsouflidis did not have the required experience.
“Shoot me now!” “
Later in the cross-examination, Nicholas Tsouflidis had to answer several questions about the events related to the kidnapping. He believed he was the victim of a home robbery, he said.
When the kidnappers, pointing a gun at him, asked him to get into their car, he started by refusing, he says. “There is no way I am going with you. Screw you ! Shoot me now! He told them.
“Didn’t you cry out for help?” Asked the defense lawyer. “I didn’t think about it at the time,” replied Nicholas Tsouflidis.
Either way, he said, in the countryside, where the neighbors are far away and where no one goes around at 9 p.m. at night, no one would have heard him.
The cross-examination of Mr. Tsouflidis continues on Thursday.