Croatian fined RM25,000 for spontaneous climb up Kinabalu
KOTA KINABALU: An injured Croatian hiker rescued from an unauthorised route on Mount Kinabalu has denied deliberately trespassing into the park.
He also clarified that he had no intention to avoid paying the entry fee.
Mauro Persic was fined the maximum RM25,000 for trespassing into Kinabalu Park early this month. He settled the amount on Friday.
On social media, the 46-year-old said his decision to climb the mountain was spontaneous and driven by his desire to explore the mountain after seeing its beauty firsthand.
“All I wanted to do was explore the captivating beauty of Kinabalu the moment I saw it. I did it on the spur of the moment and did not put enough thought and consideration into it,” he said.
Persic said he had respected the environment throughout the climb, claiming that he left no trace behind and deliberately avoided climbing prominent peaks out of respect for the mountain’s sacred significance to the Kadazandusun community.
The hiker, who lives in London, apologised to anyone offended by his actions, acknowledging that he had failed to give sufficient thought and consideration before embarking on the climb.
“I would like to apologise to all the people of Sabah who feel that I have disrespected them.
“I never meant any disrespect to the people, culture nor the mountain,” he said in the social media post recently.
Persic said Sabahans had always treated him warmly and that he had nothing but praise for the people.
Referring to Mount Kinabalu by its local name “Aki Nabalu”, Persic also shared pictures of his climb via the Mesilou River on the eastern plateau of the mountain.
“Gorgeous granite formations, stunted trees, unnamed misty mountain peaks, tropical jungle vegetation and very few animals, actually.
“All this to be found in a small area of 10k radius.
“Often I felt like an intruder in this harmonious, unspoiled world,” he wrote.
Persic’s unauthorised climb was exposed on Sept 6 when he sent an SOS after he was injured and became stranded on a ledge along a steep slope.
Rescuers involved in the high-risk operation eventually brought him to safety, before he was piggybacked to the ground four days later.
The operation was challenging, with rescuers having to descend and ascend a steep slope with limited footholds while locating Persic amid rain and poor visibility.
