The Karabus Case: from Arrest to Freedom
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We are proud of the service we have provided to Trustees and Owners of Bodies Corporate and Homeowners Associations over 15 years. If we don’t already manage your apartment block or complex, we would like to. CONTACT Mike Morey TEL (021) 426 4440 FAX (021) 426 0777 VOLUME 30 No 6 JULY 2013 5773 www.cjc.org.za EMAIL [email protected] The Karabus case: From arrest16082_Earspace for Jewishto Chronicle freedom FA.indd 1 2011/08/19 10:40 AM Exclusive interview with Professor Cyril Karabus “If you are not Arab, you are treated pension, he would not have needed to He was eventually acquitted twice, and as a second-class citizen,” Professor work overseas in the first place. then had to battle to receive his passport Cyril Karabus told the Cape Jewish The oncologist worked as a locum at and visa. Chronicle about his detainment in the the Sheikh Khalifa Medical Centre in Abu No justice United Arab Emirates (UAE) for over 9 Dhabi in 2002, where he simply continued “If you are against an Arab, you will lose,” months. the medical treatment of a Yemeni child he says, again emphasising that as a with acute myeloid leukaemia, who later foreigner in the UAE, he was treated as rofessor Karabus, a paediatric succumbed to her illness. He left the a second-class citizen. He insists that Poncologist from Cape Town, was country at the end of his contract; and antisemitism did not come into play, and detained in the UAE in August 2012 and unbeknown to him, was later tried and that his Judaism was not a factor. At the was only freed in May this year. “They convicted in absentia in the UAE criminal same time, he later concedes that a high called me a murderer,” said Karabus, courts on charges of manslaughter level of Jewish involvement in the case describing the moment of his arrest. The and falsifying documents. His sentence could have possibly hindered rather than cool, calm and collected doctor tells of included imprisonment and the payment helped, because of prejudices. these harrowing moments with a certain of compensation. When he was passing One aspect that demonstrated the lack level of detachment — probably a required through the country after his son’s wedding of respect and dignity in the case was that quality in a professional who deals with ill in 2012, he was arrested at the airport. although a medical committee was formed his detainment. “There is very little to do children every day. Chatting to us in his Kenilworth home, to review the evidence, “they did not meet there — I think even where I come from, Yet his warmth, humour and passion surrounded by papers that he is sorting with me once,” says the professor. One Beaufort West, is more interesting!” are equally evident, all of which made out due to his nine-month absence, meeting was arranged and then cancelled On missing the birth of his grandson him a much-loved doctor when he treated Karabus describes the events of his arrest at the last minute, and then the head of the while he was detained, Karabus quips his young patients at the Red Cross War last August. “I truly did not know about committee refused to take Karabus’ calls. that “I would have liked to be there — the Memorial Children’s Hospital for over 30 the charges,” he says, so when he was “I don’t know how you can treat a colleague doctors could always use a little help, years. Karabus served as the head of arrested, it was “a total bloody shock!” like that. They never apologised.” but they must have managed without the Department of Paediatrics and Child Karabus was taken to a small room where In addition, Karabus is furious with me!” He says that the baby was sleeping Health at the hospital and as professor of he spent the night sleeping on a bench. He Emirates Airlines, “which I will not fly when he arrived at the airport — “he Paediatrics at UCT for more than 35 years. was given no contact with his family, who again,” he says. “They are thieves and liars. didn’t even take the trouble to wake up!” He is an international expert in the field of had to carry on home without knowing They acted like policemen, not a travel — but this was not the case with the rest Paediatric Oncology and Haematology. what had happened to him. “I was simply company. They were complicit in getting of the gathered crowd. Karabus had not “Prof. Karabus saved my husband’s life bewildered,” says his wife Jenifer. “I didn’t me arrested.” In addition, when Karabus expected such a big welcome and found it 27 years ago,” wrote one supporter on the know what had happened, but as they was freed and found that his original return “quite overwhelming.” ‘Free Prof. Karabus’ Facebook page. took him they yelled ‘murderer’, so I knew ticket was still valid, he wanted to use it to Yet despite dedicating his career to it wasn’t good!” fly back to South Africa, Yet because ‘he ‘A man of exceptional calibre’ The support Professor Karabus received the public sector, there was initially Karabus was transferred to 4 different (!!) had changed his return date’, Emirates from his local attorney, Michael Bagraim, little response from the South African prisons, and was held in these for two charged him an extra R1000 to utilise the as well as the medical community around government when Karabus was detained months. He says the conditions were ticket! In one way, this sums up the entire the world, former patients and ordinary in the Emirates. ‘standard’ and that he shared a cell with nature of the ordeal. citizens were a key factor in what kept However, the professor says there is others, including a psychologist who The rollercoaster ride of the Emirati him going. Bagraim did not charge for not much that could have impacted on was arrested for supposedly prescribing judicial system “can drive one to drink,” his services and ensured that the case his freedom besides the official cutting of drugs incorrectly, according to the Emirati quips Karabus, but he ultimately remained remained in the public eye and the media. ties with that country. Yet he still surmises medical system. The professor had to calm throughout the process; writing in his that if he had not been given such a small apply for bail 5 times, and ultimately there diary, going for walks and reading during were 17 court appearances for his case. Continued on page 4 Mervyn Smith elected to top position Safe Spaces Farewell to Union of Jewish discussion — Ambassador Dov Women at World Jewish Congress join the debate Segev-Steinberg 80th AGM Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies Page 6 Page 14 Page 19 Honourary-Life Vice President and African Jewish Congress President Mervyn Smith was elected as a Co-Chairman of the Policy Council at the World Jewish Congress. INI S DE THIS issUE... t is one of the top five positions in the Iorganisation. This prestigious role means that Mervyn will be deciding on policy related to YAD New Herzlia A chocolate a range of issues facing Jewish communities ‘Bingo for Bucks!’ Committee wonderland around the world. He will also be representing 2013/14 in Israel South African Jewry and bringing our perspective Page 27 Page 30 Page 36 to this important forum. See more on pages 4 and 8 2 NEWS & VIEWS Cape Jewish Chronicle July 2013 Community Noticeboard SE? VED ADDRESS MO HOU ATE YOUR to UPD R MEMBERE Contact Gail: 021-464 6700/748 The following organisations are e-mail : affiliated to Jewish Care Cape [email protected] Cape Jewish Seniors Association • Glendale • Highlands House • Jewish Community Services KAPLAN CENTRE PUBLIC • Nechama • Oranjia • ASTRA LECTURE Centre (Jewish Sheltered Employment and Rosecourt Should the Jews be Alarmed? 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