South Sudan judge dismisses charges against Slidell businessman - NOLA.com

By Katherine Sayre, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune
on November 29, 2012 at 9:22 AM, updated November 29, 2012 at 10:19 AM

A judge in South Sudan has dismissed charges against a Slidell businessman who was arrested by security forces there and detained for nearly a month, a spokesman with Louisiana Sen. David Vitter's office said Thursday. Elton Mark McCabe, 52, must wait another week in South Sudan, though, until the Minister of Justice signs a paper allowing him to leave the country.

Elton McCabe, 52 (Submitted by Anne McCabe)

In the mean time, McCabe will stay at a U.S. Embassy facility, and State Department officials will assist in getting him out of the country safely, the spokesman said.

McCabe traveled to South Sudan to pursue business opportunities in the developing nation in August, and he was suddenly arrested by security forces there on Oct. 14 on accusations of kidnapping or attempted kidnapping. Vitter, who advocated for McCabe's release, has said there was no evidence in the case, and implied that McCabe's business competitors or enemies there had set up the arrest.

The Justice Minister is slated to sign the paperwork on Dec. 6, although Vitter said he will be pushing to expedite that process.

McCabe's wife, Anne, said she was "ecstatic" upon hearing news of the judge's decision.

"I'm still cautiously ecstatic until I hear that he's in flight and on his way home," she said. "I just can't express how thankful I am to David Vitter, his office and his staff."