Arrest made in abduction of breakfast chain boss

MONTREAL — The president of the Cora Group breakfast chain expressed relief Tuesday after Quebec provincial police announced an arrest in his kidnapping nearly 18 months ago.

Authorities said they’d executed an arrest warrant for a man wanted in the case of Nicholas Tsouflidis, who was allegedly taken at gunpoint from his Mirabel home, north of Montreal, in March 2017.

A passerby found the businessman bound but alive in a ditch in Laval several hours later.

Tsouflidis, in his mid-40s, is the youngest son of Cora Mussely Tsouflidou, who founded the Cora chain of restaurants.

“The last year has been trying,” Tsouflidis said in a statement from the company. “Today, I am relieved to learn of the arrest of a suspect. As far as I’m concerned, it seems to be a unique and isolated case.”

Paul Zaidan, 49, was arrested at his home in Laval early Tuesday on charges including kidnapping and unlawful confinement. He is expected to be arraigned Wednesday.

Some reports on Tuesday described Zaidan as a former Cora franchisee.

Police spokesman Sgt. Stephane Tremblay said there could be more arrests. “We know that he [Zaidan] is the main suspect in this case,” Tremblay said, noting the investigation spanned several months.

Tremblay said the police probe demonstrated Tsouflidis was allegedly nabbed in an effort to obtain a ransom and that the incident was not linked in any way to organized crime.

Tsouflidis said he was confident that the judicial system would shed light on the reasons behind the events.