Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 19/00) - Walter Lothar Ebke is free on bail after several of his friends showed support at his bail hearing Friday. Justice J.E. Richard set bail at $100,000, saying there is no evidence he will flee Yellowknife.

Walter Ebke, out on bail, must report to the RCMP every day.

"It is to Mr Ebke's credit that so many of his friends here in Yellowknife are willing to vouch for his trustworthiness and are willing to post bail," he said.

"There is no evidence that he was on the run from German authorities when he was arrested last month. There is no evidence that he was hiding from them."

A payment of $25,000 in cash was ordered and three sureties of $25,000 each were required from Ebke's supporters. He is to be in court again July 13 when a date will be set for an extradition hearing.

As a condition of his bail, Ebke must report to RCMP on a daily basis, respond to any reasonable request from them to confirm he is in Yellowknife, not leave the municipality and inform them of any change of address, occupation or employment.

Ebke is also ordered to not have any direct or indirect contact with two individuals from Germany who supplied testimony to authorities about his alleged role in the Revolutionary Cells, a German terrorist group.

Affidavits were submitted from several people and three of them were cross-examined in court by Crown counsel Shelagh Kreagh. Phoebe Arden, Aggie Brockman and Stephen Fancott testified but a publication ban disallows reporting on the testimony or other evidence presented at the hearing.

Kreagh argued that Ebke's alleged actions in Germany should not be overshadowed by the seemingly relaxed lifestyle he has been leading in Yellowknife.

"You have to consider the character of the fugitive," she said. "That does show a manipulative and dishonest person.

"He's got no motive to stay but he's got a lot of motivation to leave."

Ebke's lawyer Adrian Wright used case law to argue Ebke's legal right, when applying Criminal Code provisions to the Extradition Act, to be released. He presented the difficulties in leaving Yellowknife, his business -- Lothar's Workmanship Solutions and the Back Bay Boat Bed and Breakfast -- as well as his ties to the community as reasons for him not to want to leave.

"These are individuals who know Mr. Ebke well...and collectively there are a number of individuals involved and all are aware of the allegations of the German authorities," he said "That speaks to the likelihood he will not go anywhere and speaks to the ties he has to the community."

Wright added, "there are not many ways to get out of Yellowknife, there's the highway and the airport."