South Africa to send official to UAE over doctor manslaughter trial

A South African official is arriving in the UAE tomorrow to address the case of South African doctor Cyril Karabus who is currently being detained in Abu Dhabi over charges of manslaughter.

Marius Fransman, South Africa's International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister, is travelling to the UAE tomorrow to convey his government's concern about the detention of the doctor since August, according to a report in The Mercury.

Dr Karabus, 77, was convicted in absentia of murder and forgery, accused of causing the death in 2002 of a three-year-old Yemeni girl suffering cancer.

His retrial on charges of manslaughter and forgery has been stranded in court for months awaiting the medical committee's report, as well as a medical file requested by the defence.

The paediatric oncologist, who denies the charge, has been on bail with his passport confiscated since October. He was arrested at Dubai airport in August while travelling with his family.

Last month South Africa sent a démarche to the UAE Government calling for the case against Dr Karabus to be expedited.

Earlier this week on February 27 the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court announced that the medical committee examining the case of the South African doctor accused of manslaughter had not sent its report yet,

The case was adjourned until March 20 pending the committee's report.

newsdesk@thenational.ae