Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 17/02) - Walter Lothar Ebke will have to wait until June for the Court of Appeal to decide whether he can work at remote locations outside of Yellowknife.

Ebke, and his lawyer, Adrian Wright, appeared in the Court of Appeal yesterday to request that the terms of bail release be changed to allow him to travel for work.

Ebke was seeking permission to travel by chartered flights to Nunavut to work as a caribou counter with the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and to travel to Blachford Lake Lodge to conduct renovations there.

His current bail conditions permit Ebke to work on the Ingraham Trail as long as he first reports his whereabouts to the RCMP. He is required to check in with the RCMP every day.

Wright argued that Ebke has complied with the conditions of his release for the past two years. He said Ebke would report to the RCMP before departing Yellowknife on a chartered flight to the work locations and also inform them on the length of his stay and when he would be returning.

Wright said the chartered flight company would be aware of Ebke's location at all times, Ebke could check in with the RCMP every day via telephone and several individuals who could vouch for his whereabouts would accompany him at all times.

Crown prosecutor Sue Kendall argued the RCMP would not be able to monitor the whereabouts of Ebke.

"In my submission the risk of flight is significant in this circumstance," said Kendall.

She also pointed out the funding for the Blachford Lake Lodge renovations had not yet been approved.

Justice Virginia Schuler said based on the information before her, she was not prepared to make a decision at this time. She said the matter can go before the Court of Appeal in June when a date is set for an appeal hearing.

After yesterday's proceedings, Ebke said he was not surprised by Schuler's decision, but a little disappointed.

Ebke has been keeping himself busy doing contract work around town and working on the Ingraham Trail.

Ebke said he's not nervous about the court proceedings but it does have an effect on his life.

"Once in a while it affects my day to day life by just thinking about the next court appearance or what will come next," said Ebke.

Last September, Justice John Vertes ruled there were grounds for Ebke to be extradited to Germany to stand trial on terrorism charges. Ebke is appealing that ruling.

The extradition order is now in the hands of federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon. Cauchon's decision on whether or not to sign the extradition order is expected in June. Ebke must then file an appeal within 30 days of the ruling.