Aydin Coban to appeal Dutch blackmail verdict

The man wanted in Canada for the online exploitation of Amanda Todd is planning anappeal after being sentenced yesterday to nearly 11 years in a Dutchjail on separate charges.

Aydin Coban,38, was convicted for fraud and blackmail using the internet on Thursday in the Netherlands.

His sentence of 10 years and eight months was the maximum sought by prosecutors. Dutch authorities said the decision was based on Coban'srisk to reoffend.

A press release fromthe Dutch court said Coban "deceived tenants, committed computer intrusion and blackmailed a man online by pretending to be a boy who was looking for sexual contacts."

Former lawyer

Coban's lawyer Robert Malewiczdidn't specify the grounds on which the latest appeal will be based.

But on Thursday, a former lawyer forCobansaid he expected the case wouldbe appealed to the European Court, in part because of the surveillance tools usedby investigators.

"Inmy vision, the court made a mistake by accepting the use of the keylogger. The European Court is very strict when it comes to privacy and I expect that if this case will be handled by the European Court, there will be a whole other outcome,"Christian van Dijkwrote toCBC News in anemail.

"The question will be if the use of secret surveillance tools by governmental organizationsare accepted, and if so, what are the requirements. ... This case will have influence on many other judgments in Europe."

Keyloggersare hardware devices that capture computer keystrokes. They can be used to gather personal information like usernames and passwords by tracking each letter and number pressed on a keyboard.

Amanda Todd case

On Friday, Dan McLaughlin with the B.C. Criminal Justice Branch said that process could "further delay his extradition" to Canada.

Cobanwas chargedin relation to the Todd case in 2014.

Two years earlier, Todd who was 15 at the time committed suicide after posting a video onYouTubesaying she had been blackmailed by someone online.

Charges against Coban includepossession of child pornography,extortion,internetluring, criminal harassment and distribution of child pornography.

He is slated to be extraditedforthat trial after the Dutch proceedings wrap up, although he has appealed to stay in the Netherlands.

The decision on that appeal of the extradition is expected on April 4.

McLaughlin said if that extradition is approved and the appeal on the verdict is dismissed, Coban will be flown to Canada.

"It would not be necessary to wait until his sentence in the Netherlands is served," McLaughlin said.

But if Coban's appeal of his Dutch conviction goes ahead, he will likely remain in the Netherlands until that is resolved.