SA professor denied bail in UAE

2012-10-04 10:44

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Cape Town - A Cape Town professor's bid to be let out on bail in the United Arab Emirates has been denied, the Cape Argus reported on Thursday.

Cyril Karabus, 77, of Claremont was hoping to get bail on Wednesday, but the hearing was adjourned because the prosecutor could not find a crucial docket. He would have to apply for bail again next Thursday.

Karabus was tried and convicted in absentia in the UAE on charges of manslaughter and falsifying documents, following the death of a critically ill patient in his care.

While working at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 12 years ago the paediatrics and medical oncology specialist operated on a 3-year-old cancer patient who later died of leukaemia.

He was sentenced to three years and six months in jail and required to pay "blood money" to the patient's family. He was arrested on August 18, while in transit in Dubai to South Africa, from his son’s wedding in Toronto, Canada.

According to the report, he was being held in the hospital wing of the Al Wathba prison in Abu Dhabi because he had a pacemaker and needed medical attention. His son Michael told the newspaper he was hoping to hear from his father before the end of the week.

"The only way we can contact him is through the South African embassy in the UAE or through his lawyers. We are hoping he calls us soon."

- SAPA