Montreal authorities have apprehended a second individual on Thursday in connection with the alleged arson incident at a luxury home under construction, previously owned by the former co-owner of the adult content platform Pornhub.
Mohamed Aymen Tayeb, a 28-year-old suspect, was taken into custody by the SPVM’s arson and explosives unit in the Ville-Marie borough. Following the arrest, Tayeb appeared in court on the same day to face arson charges, although the accusation has yet to be examined in court.
The first arrest in this case occurred back in September when 39-year-old Claudy Lafond was apprehended. Lafond was already detained in the Bordeaux jail due to pending trial for attempted murder.
The incident, which occurred on April 25, 2021, caused significant damage to the opulent Ahuntsic–Cartierville residence belonging to Feras Antoon.
Law enforcement was notified of a potential break-in at the property on Jean-Bourdon Avenue at approximately 11:30 p.m., involving two suspects. Upon arrival, police officers discovered a fire had been ignited, prompting the dispatch of firefighters to the location. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
The property, valued between $15-20 million, suffered damages estimated in the millions due to the blaze.
Antoon, who previously served as the CEO of Mindgeek, the parent company of Pornhub, resigned from his position in 2022 amidst allegations of the platform hosting videos containing minors and victims of sexual assault.
Following the accusations, Antoon claimed that the fire at the residence was orchestrated by “religious extremists.”
