Croatian climber who scaled Mount Kinabalu illegally may face fine

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 14 — The Croatian national who had to be rescued after falling while trying to ascend Mount Kinabalu on an unsanctioned route and without a permit may be slapped with a fine.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said Sabah Parks had lodged a police report over the incident involving the 46-year-old Mauro Persic, who is still in recovery.

“The police and Sabah Parks are investigating the case and looking into what action should be taken. After that, perhaps once he has recovered, we will deal with it,” he told a press conference on the state-level Malaysia Day Celebration here today.

“But considering everything… maybe he will receive a fine,” he added.

Jafry said that the incident should also serve as a lesson to the public not to use unofficial trails to climb Mount Kinabalu, as doing so could pose a safety risk.

Last week, it was reported that a total of 43 search and rescue (SAR) personnel successfully brought Persic down after a five-day operation that also involved challenging terrain and rainy weather conditions.

Persic had attempted to scale the mountain from a separate, closed-off route from Mesilou, but ran into challenges, fell down and had to call authorities for help.

He had initially took part in an extreme adventure race in the Tambatuan area of Kota Belud.

During his ordeal, Persic sustained injuries to his right leg and right ribs, as well as minor wounds to his hands.

The rescue operation involved personnel from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM); the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Malaysia (STORM) and Mountain Search and Rescue (MOCSAR) team, as well as mountain guides, porters, rangers and other security agencies.

Persic expressed gratefulness to the team who rescued him, especially the porter who carried him down on his back, and said the adventure was “probably not” worth it but thanked the rescue team for the kindness shown to him.