Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 07/01) - A territorial Supreme Court judge has found there is sufficient evidence to justify the German government's extradition request of Walter Lothar Ebke as a suspected member of a radical left-wing terrorist group.

Walter Lothar Ebke

Justice John Vertes vacated Ebke's bail and remanded him in custody to the Yellowknife Correctional Centre.

Ebke's lawyer, Adrian Wright filed an appeal immediately after Vertes' 50-page written ruling was delivered Thursday morning.

Wright says he will also apply as soon as possible to have Ebke again freed on bail.

"I guess it's one step in the process," Wright said in an interview, adding Ebke is "doing fine."

Ebke, 47, was held in custody for about a month after his arrest in May 2000, but had been free on $100,000 bail for the last 15 months.

Ebke, who owns the Back Bay Bed and Breakfast in Old Town with partner Regina Pfeifer.

Pending the outcome of a court appeal, a decision on the extradition request by the Federal Republic of Germany now rests with federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan.

The German government alleges that Ebke was active in the Revolutionary Cells in Berlin between 1985 and 1993.

Ebke's lawyers tried unsuccessfully to persuade Vertes the proceedings should be quashed and the extradition request stayed because Ebke has not been formally charged with any crime to date by German authorities.

Vertes dismissed that argument but acknowledged the search through Ebke's house and belongings was "broad and vague."

The items seized included documents, a computer, financial records, reference books including Pfeifer's academic thesis for a university degree, photos, newspaper articles and an answering and fax machine.

"Why some items were seized, such as Pfeifer's academic thesis papers, seems truly inexplicable," Vertes wrote.

Although it did not warrant a stay in proceedings, Vertes said, he ordered the items seized by police to be returned to Pfeifer.

After the decision 10 to 12 of Ebke's friends met at his lawyer's office to offer sureties -- money or the promise of assets -- that will be used in the application for bail pending appeal.

The close circle of friends of Ebke were disappointed the proceedings were not stayed.

Background

-Ebke is wanted by German authorities for offences related to his alleged involvement with the Revolutionary Cells, a leftist terrorist group as well as aggravated assault on Harald Hollenberg, the director of the German government's Alien's office, in 1986. Ebke is alleged to have played a background role an incident in which Hollenberg was shot in both legs.

- He is also alleged to have played a background role in the aggravated assault on Dr. Karl Korbmacher, a judge of the German federal administrative court, who was shot in both legs in 1987

- Ebke is alleged to have played a role in damage using explosives to the Victory Column, a monument in Berlin.

- Vertes said there was sufficient evidence of Ebke's alleged involvement in these acts to have him committed pending his bail pending appeal hearing.

- In May 2000 Ebke was arrested on a provisional arrest warrant endorsed by the federal government at the request of the German government. He and partner Regina Pfeifer were also charged with immigration act offences.

- June 2000 Ebke was released on $100,000 bail posted by friends.

- April 2001 Immigration act charges against Ebke, Pfeifer, and two associates were stayed. Ebke and Pfeifer married other people in Yellowknife. The RCMP alleged the marriages were arranged so Ebke and Pfeifer could obtain landed immigrant status in Canada.