Karabus still waiting

Professor Cyril Karabus's family is confused by the new development in his fraud and manslaughter case in the United Arab Emirates.

The retired South African paediatrician was acquitted of the charges last month, but he could not leave that country after the prosecution appealed the court's decision.

He appeared in court on Tuesday and the case was postponed to Monday next week. But yesterday the prosecution informed his lawyers that the court had rejected its appeal.

Karabus's daughter, Sarah, said the prosecution still had 20 days to bring another appeal.

"We've been told that the judge dismissed the case. I don't know how that happened without a court hearing. I will believe it when I see it," she said.

"You will get a smile from me when he is out of the United Arab Emirates. I am not celebrating yet."

Police arrested Karabus in August at the Dubai International Airport. The charges relate to a United Arab Emirates child he operated on in 2002. The boy died of leukaemia. Karabus was tried and convicted of fraud and manslaughter in 2003 in absentia.