Mohammad Momin Khawaja, seen in 2004, was the first person charged under Canada's Anti-terrorism Act.Mohammad Momin Khawaja, seen in 2004, was the first person charged under Canada's Anti-terrorism Act. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

An Ottawa man found guilty of aiding terrorism is appearing before Ontario's highest court on Tuesday in an effort to overturn his 2008 conviction.

Mohammad Momin Khawaja, 30, was convicted of charges of financing and facilitating terrorism for training at a remote camp in Pakistan and providing cash and other assistance to a group of British extremists.

He was also convicted of two offences for building a remote-control device that could trigger bombs.

He was convicted in October 2008 and five months later Judge Douglas Rutherford of the Ontario Superior Court sentenced Khawaja to 10½ years in prison, calling him "a willing and eager participant" in a terrorist scheme.

Khawaja is asking the Ontario Court of Appeal to acquit him on all charges and set him free.

Crown prosecutors on Tuesday said Khawaja remains a danger to society, and they are asking the court to change his sentence to life in prison.

Crown attorney Nick Devlin told the court Tuesday that the motive clause is crucial, and said Khawaja had motive.

Khawaja was the first man charged under the federal Anti-terrorism Act after he was arrested March 29, 2004.

The RCMP raided Khawaja's house in Orleans and his workplace. The raid was part of an investigation involving Canada and Britain in which nine men of Pakistani heritage were arrested. Khawaja was the only person arrested in Canada.

With files from The Canadian Press