Karabus fed up with UAE legal system after case is delayed again
TODAY is the 249th day that South African Professor Cyril Karabus has been detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the 34th day since the paediatric oncologist was acquitted of all charges relating to the death of a three-yearold Yemeni girl he treated for leukaemia at a hospital in Abu Dhabi in 2002.
He is not allowed to leave the country as the prosecutor has appealed the decision.
Karabus, 78, of Cape Town, said yesterday that he was fed up and had had enough of the UAE legal system.
This was soon after his appeal hearing was postponed for a second time. “Whatever happens, happens. I can’t control any of it, all I know is that it’s not finished and I’m sick and tired of it all,” he said.
The prosecutor argued that Karabus, 78, failed to give the patient a vital blood transfusion, which led to her death.
His case will be heard again on Monday.
The judge has asked for a postponement to allow the court time to establish why the patient’s treatment was stopped just before her death, said Karabus’s lawyer, Michael Bagraim.
Bagraim believes that there is no need for concern as the judge has raised a “legitimate and valid question”.
“When Karabus got to court, a question was raised by the judge as to why treatment had stopped on the deceased patient.
“The answer was that the case was handed over to a neurologist from Karabus, and that it was the neurologist who had taken the decision to stop the treatment,” said Bagraim.
“We are very thankful that the postponement is a short one and that only one question remains outstanding which is easily answered, and will absolve Karabus of any wrongdoing.”
Bagraim explained: “(During the child’s treatment) neurological complications arose and Karabus handed her over to a neurologist.
“She died the following day when Karabus was not on duty, at the time when her treatment was stopped.”
Karabus was arrested in Dubai during a stopover en route to South Africa after attending a family wedding in Canada on August 18.
He had been tried and sentenced in absentia.
Karabus, who is fitted with a pacemaker, said he spent his time reading and walking.
“There is nothing else for me to do. I’m grateful for the support coming from all over the world, it helps to know that there are so many people on my side,” he said.
Karabus has missed the birth of his grandson and spent his 78th birthday, on April 1, in the UAE.
The South African government has expressed its disap- pointment in what it believes is a violation of Karabus’s right to a fair trial.
“We are disappointed that the judicial authorities in the UAE have once again seen it fit to further prolong the stressful ordeal that Professor Karabus has been going through since August 2012,” said Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Marius Fransman.
“The South African government will continue to raise its concerns through the relevant diplomatic channels with the government of the UAE.”