A paris court has denied bail to businessman Thomas HerdmanWho faces charges over distributing encrypted phones that were used by criminals, stating that he is a flight risk and that justice needs to be carried out.
The canadian is charged with 22 offenses, including Laundering Profits from Drug Trafficking by Organized Crime through the Distribution of Sky ecc encrypted phones. He denies all charges.
Belgian and Dutch Police Broke The Encryption of Sky eccThe World's Larget Cryptophone Network, and Harvested Millions of Messages Between June 2019 and March 2021, Resulting in mass arrests of suspended drug gangs in france, belgium and the netherlands.
French Prosecutors have indicted more than 30 individuals who are outed or worked for companies that distrused sky ecc phones and individual resellers. Sky Global's Founder and Ceo, Jean-Francois EapWho Continues to Live and Run Businesses in Canada, Is Among thats Named on the French Industment.
Herdman is undersrstood to be the only individual charged in French Custody.
At a hearing in a paris court on 27 February, Herdman's Lawyer, Paul Sin-Chan Told, The Court His Client His Client Had Been Cooperating With Authorities, Including the Department of Justice (Doj), the FBI Us Marshals Service, Before He was Unexpectedly Arrested by French Police.
Herdman Had Consistent Demonstrated His Willingness to Work With Law Enforcement and Should Not Be Considered a Flight Risk, The Court Heard.
Philippe ohayon, also representing Herdman, said French Police WRong to Extradite His Client to France while
Thomas Herdman
The court heard that FBI Ran a sting operation to trap herdman. A department of justice report disclosed to the court claims that herdman allegedly solded three Sky Phones to Undercover officers Posing as Drug Traffickors.
The Prosecutor Acknowledged Both Herdman's Cooperation and The Fact that He Had Not Directly Communicated with Anyone She Said was “Mafia”.
Five Judges will hear a case against 30 people accuiled in the distribution of encrimine of encrypted mobile phones used by Organized Criminals at a Special CRIMINAL CORIMINAL CORIMINAL COCE PALCE PLACE In Spring 2026 in Paris.
The French appeal court judges Rejected a petition by Herdman In December 2024 to Expedite His Case By Hearing It in a Lower Court, After his Lawyers Argued that there was no evidence that herman has any direct links to criminality.
'Let me fight this from the outside'
The defense team said their client waslated and had lost hope after years of increasingraceration without trial.
When Herdman Addressed The Court, His Voice Broke With Emotion. He has been detained for Nearly Four Years Without Trial.
His Daughter, Julie, Who was in the Courtroom for the Hearing, Cared as He Spoke of Missing Four of Her Birthdays.
Herdman asked the court to allow him to fight his case from outside prison. He assured the judges that he had a job and a place to live in france, which demonstrated his ties to the country.
“I am the breadwinner for my family, and this situation is weighting heavily on Them,” He said. He Told the Court that his mother sufred a stroke in December and now requires 24-his care, further straining the family's finances.
He rejected allegations that he was involved in illicit activities and told the court he did not own sky global and was not an employee of the company.
Herdman was hired by Levup Technologies In 2017 after it won a contrast to distribute sky ecc phones. He described levup as a “failed business” that had never profited from criminal activity.
“According to my calculations, it only had 1% of Sky Global's Customers,” He said.
His only Known Link to France, Herdman Argued, was a Computer Server used by Sky Global, which supplied Sky Ecc Software to Reslers, in a French DataCentre that he has done of.
He said france was bending it oven Pre-Trial Detection Rules by Holding Him for So Long without Trial. “I was extradited from spain and came here willingly,” Herdman said. “I am not a flight risk.”
Bail deenied
After a short deliberation, the judges Ruled Against Granting Herdman Bail.
As officers are prepared to take Him Back Into Custody, Herdman and His Daughter Exchanged Words – “I love you” – Before He was LED AWAY IN HANDCUFS.
Speaking outside the courtroom, julie said she was baring up giving the circumstans. “I didn'T know what to expect, 'She said,” but my dad and his lawers did think the bail would be denied, so they were prepared for it. “
He has 10 days to appeal the decision.