KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Parks is targeting a maximum compound and civil suit against the Croatian who allegedly broke the law and used an unauthorised route up Mount Kinabalu last week.
The 46-year-old also posed a risk-fraught challenge to rescuers when he fell down a slope en route to the summit, forcing them to scale a slippery and uncharted path to reach him.
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State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Arifin said that based on updates from Sabah Parks, the man is still under police detention while being treated in hospital.
He said the climber was initially taken to Hospital Ranau before being transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital and then to a private hospital.
He said a report was lodged during the search and rescue operation, and Sabah Parks has opened an investigation paper.
"It has also appointed a prosecuting officer to handle this case. Investigations are still ongoing so the compound amount or next course of action have yet to be determined," Jafry said on Monday (Sept 14).
ALSO READ: Rescue of Croatian on Mt Kinabalu complicated by steep slope, constant stream of water
However, the target is to set a maximum compound amount and possibly a civil suit, he added.
He said Sabah Parks was working with the police on the matter, and that the man’s passport has been impounded.
The Croatian was reported to have fallen from a slope while scaling the country’s highest mountain without a permit or a guide, and called for emergency assistance on Sept 6.
Rescue efforts were mounted and he was finally brought down to safety on Thursday (Sept 10) night, with some injuries including fractures on parts of his body.
