Creating porn charge dropped in Todd case
Dutch man still faces charges of luring, spreading photos in B.C. extradition bid
VANCOUVER — Dutch prosecutors have dropped a charge of creating child pornography against a man who is also accused of extortion and Internet luring in Canada related to the Amanda Todd case.
Aydin Coban’s lawyer, Christian van Dijk, confirmed the charge had been dropped, but said his client still faces charges of extortion and spreading pictures of naked victims. “[There are] no charges connected to Amanda Todd, since there will be an extradition,” he said in an email from the Netherlands.
Van Dijk said Coban still faces charges related to other alleged victims outside the country.
Before Todd’s suicide, she posted an emotional video about how she was lured by an unidentified man to expose herself during an online encounter. She was 15 when she died.
Neil MacKenzie, a spokesman for the B.C. Criminal Justice Branch, said the branch is proceeding with efforts to extradite Coban to face criminal charges in Todd’s case in B.C.
He said the branch has forwarded an extradition request for Coban to the federal Department of Justice, which will relay the petition to Holland. “I can’t really speak to precisely what stage it’s at,” MacKenzie said, adding there isn’t usually a specific timeline to such cases.
He said any extradition would have to wait until after Coban’s court proceedings in Holland next April. “Mr. Coban would not be available to be removed or extradited to Canada prior to the conclusion of proceedings there.”
In April 2013, the RCMP announced five charges against Coban including extortion, criminal harassment, Internet luring and child pornography.