Tragic End: South African Psychiatrist Omar Sabadia Dies after Serving Sentence for Wife's Murder Conspiracy

Jailed in 1998 for arranging the murder of his wife Zahida, South African psychiatrist of Indian-origin Omar Sabadia died this week nearly four years after being released on parole. The plot was revealed when the hired killers confessed that they were paid by him to commit the crime.

Dr. Omar Sabadia, a South African psychiatrist of Indian origin who was convicted for orchestrating the murder of his wife, passed away this week. He breathed his last in a hospital in Tzaneen, Limpopo after suffering from a brief illness at the age of 72. Intriguingly, he died nearly four years after being released on parole from his 50-year prison sentence.

The Crime and Conviction

Sabadia was handed down a half-century-long imprisonment term back in 1998 for masterminding the killing of his wife two years prior to that. The case had garnered significant media attention due to its chilling details and Sabadia's high-profile status as a psychiatrist.

In 1996, Sabadia made headlines when he claimed that both he and his wife Zahida had been kidnapped by hijackers who had subsequently taken her away in their family car leaving him behind. A distraught Sabadia appeared on media with their three young children making urgent appeals for people's help to find Zahida.

The Gruesome Discovery

Zahida’s decomposing body was discovered tied to a tree near Ga Rankuwa, north of Pretoria after an agonizing search lasting 22 days. The gruesome discovery led investigators closer to unraveling the truth behind Zahida's disappearance and subsequent murder.

Sabadia broke down eventually under police pressure and confessed that it was he who had hired three men to execute Zahida’s murder. He led detectives to the scene where her body lay discarded igniting shockwaves across South Africa.

Motive Behind Murder

Upon arrest, Albert Moeketsane, Richard Malema, and Patrick Manyape -the trio hired by Sabadia- corroborated his confession revealing another shocking detail. They admitted that Sabadia had contracted them to kill his wife with the motive of claiming her life insurance policy, which was worth nearly USD 2 million.

This revelation painted a chilling picture of Sabadia as a man who valued money over the life of his own wife and mother of his children. The case left an indelible mark on South African society, raising questions about trust and betrayal within family structures.

The End of A Dark Chapter

With Sabadia's death, a dark chapter in South Africa's crime history comes to an end. His demise also brings closure for those affected by this tragic event, especially their three children who were robbed off their mother due to their father’s greed. However, it is a grim reminder that justice may be served but the scars inflicted by such heinous crimes linger forever.