Amanda Todd case: Crown seeks 12 years in prison for 'unrepentant' Dutch man convicted of extorting B.C. teen
CTV
The Crown is seeking a 12-year prison sentence for a Dutch man convicted of extorting and harassing Port Coquitlam, B.C., teen Amanda Todd, who died by suicide a decade ago.
The Crown is seeking a 12-year prison sentence for a Dutch man convicted of extorting and harassing Port Coquitlam, B.C., teen Amanda Todd, who died by suicide a decade ago.
At the start of Aydin Coban’s sentencing hearing at New Westminster Supreme Court on Tuesday, prosecutor Louise Kenworthy said the prison term they are requesting should be served consecutively to a sentence from the Netherlands he is currently serving. Before his extradition to Canada in 2020, a Dutch court sentenced Coban to almost 11 years in prison for online fraud and blackmail involving dozens of young girls and gay men.
“It’s the Crown’s submission that the evidence before the courts demonstrates that Mr. Coban is unrepentant,” Kenworthy said. ”He has been in custody for many similar offences since January 2014, and has shown no interest in rehabilitation.”
Kenworthy said the Extradition Act provides that, by default, a Canadian jail sentence for a person who has been temporarily surrendered is to be served consecutively to a term of imprisonment imposed elsewhere. However, she added the court may also order the Canadian sentence to be served concurrently with the foreign sentence.
In August, a jury found Coban guilty of extortion, harassment, child luring, possession of child pornography, and possession of child pornography for the purpose of distribution. During the trial, the court heard how Todd was tormented for years by various online accounts, asking her to perform sexual acts on web-cam, and threatening to share explicit images of her if she didn’t comply.
“The offences he committed were morally repugnant. His conduct was calculated, callous, and had devastating consequences,” Kenworthy said. “It’s the Crown’s submission that Mr. Coban is at high risk to reoffend, and needs to be separated from society for a lengthy period of time to protect children.”
Kenworthy said over a period of more than two years, Coban sent over 700 messages on four different platforms, and about a third were sent to Todd. The rest were sent to her family, friends, and others.
