Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife ( Jun 07/00) - Two Yellowknife residents were arrested last week and charged with offenses under the Immigration Act.

Regina Erika Pfeifer, 38, who has been living with Walter Lothar Ebke, the man facing extradition for alleged terrorist activity in Germany, was charged with fraudulently entering Canada as a landed immigrant.

"She has been a (landed immigrant) since the mid-1990s," explained Sgt. Phil Johnson of the Yellowknife RCMP.

Also, Yellowknife's William Andrew Spaulding, 49, has been charged under section 94(1)(m) of the Canada Immigration Act.

"Spaulding is a Canadian citizen and he is charged with assisting or aiding her," Johnson said. Spaulding, a Canadian citizen, operates Andrew Spaulding Construction and has been involved in other community organizations such as a being a board member of Ecology North.

Johnson said details about the fraudulent measures used in Pfeifer's immigration will likely be explained July 25 when the two will appear in territorial court in Yellowknife.

"Because it's before the court, it's inappropriate to comment on the way they are alleged to have carried out the offence," Johnson said.

Crown counsel Sue Kendall did however confirm that this charge -- section 94(1)(b) under the Canadian Immigration Act -- would be issued in the situation of a false marriage.

Both Spaulding and Pfeifer were released from custody shortly after their arrests.

Pfeifer and Ebke have operated the bed and breakfast, known for the RCMP boat sunk into the front lawn, since last summer.

Ebke, who is a Canadian resident, is facing extradition after German federal authorities asked the Canadian government for assistance over the past months with his arrest.

Ebke was arrested under a provisional arrest warrant by Yellowknife RCMP on May 17 and is currently in custody awaiting a bail hearing in Yellowknife Thursday and Friday of this week.