Pretoria - Retired specialist paediatric oncologist, Professor Cyril Karabus, has thanked his family, government and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, among others, for their role in his case, where he was recently absolved of wrongdoing in the death of a three-year-old.
“I am extremely pleased and relieved that my case has finally come to an end and that the UAE judicial process has found me not guilty. The Medical Committee found that I’ve acted correctly in the treatment of my patient and absolved me of any wrongdoing,” said Karabus in a statement.
He was found not guilty in a United Arab Emirates court on Thursday.
Karabus, an emeritus professor at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and specialist pediatric oncologist, had been in detention in Abu Dhabi in the UAE since August 2012, in connection with a case dating back to 2002/2003.
He was convicted in absentia in the UAE on charges of manslaughter and falsifying documents after the death of a three-year-old cancer patient.
Karabus said it had been a trying journey.
“I would therefore like to thank my family, my legal teams in both South Africa and the UAE, international governments, business, civil society and all individuals who rendered continuous support by engaging with various UAE stakeholders.
“I would like to thank the South African government, the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation for their continuous efforts to ensure a positive outcome. In particular, I would like to thank Deputy Minister Marius Fransman for the personal interest he took in my case,” he said.
The professor looks forward to spending quality time with family and friends.
Earlier this month, Fransman had flown to the UAE on a working visit to hold bilateral consultations with the UAE Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Al Hamed, concerning the case of Karabus. Fransman had also consulted with Karabus about the case and enquired about his health and personal circumstances. –SAnews.gov.za
