Karabus manslaughter case postponed for the 17th time

The manslaughter case against Cape Town paediatric oncologist Cyril Karabus in the United Arab Emirates has been postponed a 17th time, until February 27, it was reported on Thursday.

At his next appearance, the judge was expected to withdraw a fraud charge again Karabus and hear a request for the manslaughter charge to be withdrawn, his lawyer Michael Bagraim told the Cape Times.

Karabus, 77, was tried and convicted in absentia in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on charges of manslaughter and falsifying documents, following the death of a three-year-old cancer patient who was under his care at an Abu Dhabi hospital 12 years ago.

He was sentenced, in absentia, to three years in jail, and was arrested and recharged in Dubai on August 18, while in transit on his return to South Africa from Toronto, in Canada, where he had attended his son's wedding.

Earlier this month, South Africa appealed to the UAE government to expedite his case.

Karabus's wife Jenifer told the newspaper that although her husband was pretending to be in control, he was "a bowed man". "This is killing him," she said.