‘Dad weekend’ turns into abduction horror for his mom
His father left for Egypt with him last year November during a weekend visit to his house in Springs
“MY husband came to fetch Kariem for the weekend late Friday afternoon on November 28 last year. We said our usual goodbyes and did the special greeting he and I have,” the torn mother of eight-year-old Kariem, Gezena Maria Behardtryk El-Abd, recalls.
“Little did I know that would be the last time I would see him.”
Two days later, on the Sunday night at about 10pm, she received a phone call from an international number. It was her husband, informing her he had taken their son to Egypt with him, and she would never see him again.
Kariem El-Abd, who was a grade 2 learner at Laerskool Impala, was taken by his father for the weekend like he always did, an arrangement they had after being separated from his wife.
El-Abd’s husband was still living in Springs at the time but El-Abd and Kariem had moved to Kempton.
“When I asked him why he had done this, he replied arrogantly that his son must live with his ‘real’ family,” El-Abd said with despair.
According to her, Kariem’s father had wanted full custody of their son, which he was refused.
A case of kidnapping was opened with Kempton Park SAPS but due to South African law, which stipulates that a parent cannot kidnap his or her own child, what El-Abd’s husband did is not against the law. Therefore a magistrate can’t issue a warrant of arrest and without such a warrant the father can’t be extradited.
Mike Bolhuis, of Specialised Security Services, agreed to help El-Abd with the case and has been offering his services for free, as she cannot afford to pay him. Even though the consultations are for free, the desperate mother needs to raise funds to pay for Bolhuis’ team doing the ground work on the case, which will cost up to R50 000 a week.
Bolhuis, who is a well known private investigator, told a leading news site that it seemed the father had connections in the Egyptian Embassy to approve all travelling documents for Kariem, because according to South African laws, a parent is not allowed to travel overseas with a child without the consent of the other parent.
“Mike is the only option I have of ever getting Kariem back. Honestly, if I believed that my son would be happy and safe with his father, I would rest by it, but I know Kariem is not happy where he is. He has visited Egypt before with his father and told me he absolutely hated it there,” El-Abd said.
The distraught mother has not been able to talk regularly with her son, as his dad doesn’t allow it.
“He only ever allows Kariem to leave voice notes on Whatsapp, but never direct communication. He allowed me one minute once, but that was it. All I could do was ask him how he was and I had to pretend like all was well because he hadn’t realised his father had taken him forever; he thought he was on holiday for a short time.”
January 24 was Kariem’s birthday. El-Abd spent the day in pain thinking of her bubbly boy and even bought him a present.
“I have so much hope that I will see my son again. I’m going to keep his birthday present and give it to him when he comes back.”
Investigations into the case are still underway, but the sooner they have funding, the faster the case can be pushed.
For more information about the case, contact El-Abd on 074-226-9009 or send an email to gezena.maria@gmail.com
See below information about Mike Bolhuis’ organisation as well as contact details:
Specialist Investigators into Serious Violent & Serious Economic Crimes
PSIRA Reg. 1590364/421949
Cell no: 082-447-6116
International calls: +27 824476116
E-mail mikebolhuis1@gmail.com
Fax: 086-585-4924
