In a startling turn of events, Christophe Folla, the co-founder and former president of Sutton Québec, a prominent real estate company, was taken into custody on Wednesday in connection with suspected arson attacks against competitors. Alongside Folla, Benjamin Amar and Alain Marc Nahmias also face charges related to conspiracy to commit arson and damage to property by fire or explosion, according to confirmation from the Crown in an email to CTV News.
The alleged attacks, spanning from December 2017 to November 2022, targeted two buildings in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, identified through the province's business registry as a Royal LePage office and a RE/MAX office. Notably, photos from Google Streetview depict significant damage inflicted upon the structures.
Scheduled to make their appearance in the Saint-Jérôme courthouse, Folla, Amar, and Nahmias are accused of colluding with a certain Philippe Aune, listed online as a real estate broker associated with Sutton Québec.
Christophe Folla played a pivotal role in founding the Quebec branch of Sutton in 1995. However, in response to the unfolding situation, a spokesperson from Teneo, a management consulting firm representing Sutton Québec, informed CTV News that Folla is undergoing removal from the company's articles of incorporation, as he is no longer serving as an administrator. The statement emphasized the termination of any affiliation between Christophe Folla and Sutton.
As the legal proceedings progress, the accused individuals find themselves entangled in a web of allegations and suspicions surrounding orchestrated attacks that spanned several years. The real estate community is left grappling with the shocking revelations, and questions linger about the motivations behind such actions against competing firms.
Meanwhile, notable real estate entities, Royal LePage and RE/MAX, have yet to offer any comments on the situation, as attempts to reach out for their response were unsuccessful.
In an unexpected twist, a once-respected figure in the real estate industry now faces legal consequences for actions that, if proven true, could have significant ramifications not only for the individuals involved but also for the reputation of the companies associated with them.