Emile-Haim Benamor - 7 killed in Old Montreal fire - update V

Convicted killer Denis Bégin was on the lam when the fire that killed seven people in Old Montreal was set in March. He admitted he was at the crime scene minutes before the blaze began. Bégin, 63, walked away from a minimum-security penitentiary in 2019 while serving time for a 1993 murder. He was arrested in May and returned to prison. The fire in March that killed seven is being investigated as arson. In a video, Bégin is seen going into the building and then coming out five minutes later. The fire is visible in the video shortly after. Denis Bégin's motive isn't clear. He is negotiating with cops for a reduced sentence. Emile-Haim Benamor is suing the City of Montreal for $7.5m claiming it didn't send enough firefighters.

Denis Bégin

The building where 7 died in March 2023 had many fire code violations between 2009 and 2018, including blocked and “dead-end” secondary exits on the second and third floors and a non-compliant fire alarm system. Inspectors contacted owner Emile Benamor, who refused to comply.

Inspectors visited the building at the corner of Place d’Youville and du Port St. many times to have the fire code violations corrected. Dozens of Airbnb rentals were being operated by Emile-Haim Benamor. Cleaners reported that rats, mice, bed bugs and electrical problems plagued the building.

Randy Sears lost his son Nathan, 35, in the fire on March 16 in Place d'Youville. Nathan Sears was passing through Montreal and rented accommodation in the building through Tarik Hassan and Airbnb.

Sears is suing Tarik Hassan, Airbnb, and owner Emile-Haim Benamor for $22m.

Firefighters at 135 Rue du Port.

The Montreal Gazette is reporting that multiple complaints were suppressed by Airbnb. One woman complained about windows nailed shut, no ventilation and blocked emergency exits. “My heart sunk so completely,” she said. “I felt guilty and so upset picturing them. I was in that bloody room. I can picture what it would be like to be stuck.”

Illegal Airbnb guests arriving at the Viger street building owned by Emile-Haim Benamor.

Quebec politicians criticized Airbnb after a building in old Montreal was used for multiple illegal rentals. There were 15 units in the building. In 2018, Airbnb-style short-term rentals were banned in the area where the building is located. Airbnb was asked by authorities to forbid rentals for people who didn't possess a certificate with Quebec's Revenue Department. Airbnb ignored the request. A lawyer for Benamor lied that Airbnb rentals in the building had nothing to do with his client. Benamor is a lawyer who pleaded guilty to tax evasion. He failed to report income of $469,591 from a "fraudulent scheme." Benamor's law firm is 'Benamor Avocats'. Benamor owned at least 21 Montreal buildings as of 2021 either in his own name, or through EP7 Consultants Inc.

'3x your income with a short term rental business w/ Tariq Hasan | Facebook'

Emile-Haim Benamor's goal was to turn them all into Airbnb rentals. He evicted long term residents to accomplish this. His front man was immigrant Tariq Hasan. He was running 7 Airbnb ads at 135 Rue du Port at the time of the fire. Hasan’s listings on Airbnb and other short-term rental sites have been removed. He is attempting to remove his internet presence.