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Thursday 11 June 2015

Wsterners Arrested For 'Stripping Naked on Sacred Mountain'

Four People, including a British woman, have appeared in court after appearing nude on top of the Malaysian sacred Mount Kinabalu

Westerners who bared all on the 4,000 metre tall Mt Kinabalu are being blamed for 'angering the mountain god' and 'causing a deadly earthquake' that killed 16 people

The father of a young British woman facing up to three months in prison for 'stripping naked on a sacred mountain' has pleaded with the judge to "not use my daughter as an example."

This morning we revealed Eleanor Hawkins, 23, was amongst four tourists arrested by Malaysian police investigating pictures showing 10 Westerners stripping off onthe 4,000 metre tall Mount Kinabalu on May 30.
Six days later, the country saw one of the biggest earthquakes in decades kill at least 16 people and many locals and politicians believe it was caused by the nude climbers 'offending the mountain god'.
But Eleanor's father Tim Hawkins, a mechanical engineer, pleaded with Malaysian authorities to 'punish the crime' and not the 'unfortunate tragic circumstances that followed'.
He told the Mirror: "We've spoken to Eleanor this morning, she's obviously very scared and shocked about what happened.
Emil KaminskiFour People, including a British woman, have appeared in court after appearing nude on top of the Malaysian sacred Mount Kinabalu
Arrest: Four People have appeared in court after allegedly appearing nude on the mountain
"I'd like to appeal to the Malaysian authorities to punish the crime and not take into account the unfortunate and tragic circumstances that followed it - because they are not related."
Amongst those killed in the earthquake were a dozen students and at least one teacher on a school trip.
Days after the disaster, three pictures showing 10 Westerners stripping off went viral on Facebook and WhatsApp.
Furious indigenous people in the city of Sabah claimed the quake was caused because they 'angered the spirit of the mountain.'
Eleanor, from Derby, was apprehended by police yesterday at Tawau airport after trying to board a plane to Kuala Lumpur.
Universal News and SportThe group of tourists at the top of the mountain
Fury: The group of Western tourists at the top of the mountain
She appeared in court this morning alongside three other defendants, two Canadians and one Dutch national.
Speaking to the Mirror, Eleanor's lawyer Ronny Cham said she is "a bit traumatised" but is "okay because she is being looked after by the British consulate."
The four are currently behind bars in the police headquarters but Mr Cham requested that they be held separate from Malaysian prisoners.
He added: "Because they are foreigners, they are not entitled to bail but I think there should be no doubt about her safety or her welfare because she is being looked after."
The tourists will be kept behind bars until the public prosecutor makes a decision - but they are facing charges of 'committing obscene acts in a public place'.
Google MapsMount Kinabalu location
Malaysia: Mount Kinabalu is located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah
This would carry a maximum penalty of three months in prison plus a fine, Mr Cham explained.
He added: "She is being held in custody at the moment and we've spoken to the lawyers, they look like they are going to court on Monday.
"I would like them not to try and make an example of them because I doubt she was the first one to do it."
Malaysia's deputy chief minister Tan Sri Alfred Jab also blamed the tourists for the tragedy and said they deserve to be punished.
He said: "If we go to a mountain, there is what I call a mountain protocol to be observed.
"We local people believe that there is someone, the guardians of these places, and there is a form of order of sacredness for those who go to the mountain to respect."
GettyMount Kinabalu, South East Asia's highest peak, in East Malaysia's state of Sabah
Giant: Mount Kinabalu is South East Asia's highest peak
Dozens of online users on Facebook and Twitter slated Malaysia and its traditions online for blaming the earthquake on the nude tourists.
But Eleanor's distraught dad Tim, who recently returned from a family holiday to the country, wanted to distance himself from the online insults.
He said: "We had the most wonderful time it was a beautiful country the people are warm and friendly and we thoroughly enjoyed it."
A British Foreign Office spokesperson told Mirror Online: "We can confirm a British national has been detained in Malaysia and we are providing consular assistance."
Mirror Online has approached the Malaysian Foreign Ministry for a comment.

GettyMalaysia's Mount Kinabalu is seen among mists from the Timpohon gate check point a day after the earthquake in Kundasang
Climbers: Mount Kinabalu is seen as a spiritual site by locals
Via - Daily Mirror

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