A Canadian jury found Saturday that Dutch citizen Aydin Coban is guilty of all charges of sextortion of a British Columbia teenager whose video of her harassment sparked a worldwide debate about cyberbullying.
Coban, extradited to Canada, convicted through the B. C. Supreme Court of extortion, two counts of ownership of child pornography, luring young people and harassment of criminals against Amanda Todd, the teenager who committed suicide in 2012.
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Todd sparked a debate abroad about cyberbullying when he posted a YouTube video detailing his harassment. He committed suicide at the age of 15. (https://reut. rs/3vK26d5)
Coban, 44, has pleaded not guilty to charges of five thieves similar to those in Todd’s case. He did not accuse him of Todd’s death.
BEFORE CRISTO. La Supreme Court Justice Martha Devlin told the jury they could convict Coban on the charges against him if prosecutors proved his case beyond a moderate doubt. Otherwise, they must acquit Coban, Devlin said.
The verdict came after weeks of witness testimony and evidence presented by prosecutors before closing arguments began.
Coban was extradited from the Netherlands to Canada in 2020 after being convicted in Amsterdam on similar charges involving many young and gay women.
In those cases, the judges concluded that Coban had gained the acceptance of his victims and then convinced them to send him compromising sexual images. Subsequently, he threatened to release those images.
The Dutch Supreme Court found that he continued those threats by sending sexual photographs to the families and friends of his victims.
(Reports by Kanishka Singh from Washington; Editing through David Gregorio)
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