A man accused of being Amanda Todd’s blackmailer is closer to coming to Canada to face charges after dropping his appeal.
Aydin Coban, currently in Dutch prison after being convicted on several criminal charges, was the subject of a Canadian investigation and the federal Department of Justice was waiting for the conclusion of Dutch legal proceedings before continuing with its extradition request.
The Dutch Supreme Court has approved the extradition of Aydin Coban, according to a spokesperson with the federal ministry, but Coban’s appeal of his conviction held up the process.
“Although Mr. Coban was ordered surrendered in August 2018 by the Dutch minister of justice, his surrender did not proceed in order to allow for the completion of the Dutch criminal proceedings, as provided for in the extradition agreement between Canada and the Netherlands. Mr. Coban has now withdrawn his appeal of his Dutch conviction,” a spokesperson for the Canadian federal justice department said.
Now, the Canadian government will look at next steps in the extradition process, according to the spokesperson, who stated in an email to The Tri-City News: “Mr. Coban’s extradition is governed by the laws of both countries and the extradition treaty and will be considered accordingly.”
The RCMP laid charges of extortion, importing or distributing child pornography, possessing child pornography and child luring against Coban in 2014, two years after Amanda Todd, who was 15, died by suicide.
In 2017, Coban was sentenced to nearly 11 years in jail for online abuse and for blackmailing 34 young girls and men. As Dutch media reported at the time, Coban was accused of using aliases and blackmailing girls after getting them to send him nude photographs.
He is reportedly eligible for early release in 18 months, according to dutchnews.nl.
In a poignant video widely shared online, the Port Coquitlam girl used flash cards to describe how she sank into depression after she was exploited online, blackmailed and taunted and attacked at school.
Todd’s mother, Carol Todd, who is a School District 43 learning resource teacher, youth and mental health advocate, declined to comment when contacted by The Tri-City News.
